A patient’s guide to talking about anxiety with a psychiatrist

Sometimes, it can be hard to know how to talk to a psychiatrist about anxiety. You might feel unsure of what to say or how to bring it up. Or you might fear that you won’t be taken seriously if you say the wrong thing. But know that psychiatric providers are trained to facilitate these important conversations with care. What matters most is that you’re open and honest about how anxiety is affecting your life.

As medical doctors and nurse practitioners who specialize in mental health, psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners want to help their patients find relief. To do that, they need to understand the full picture of their patients’ mental health. So in the following guide, we’ll provide some tips to help you talk to your psychiatric provider about anxiety.   

What to tell your psychiatrist about your anxiety

The term “anxiety” can have different meanings. Some people use it to describe those moments of worry we all experience. But it’s also used to refer to clinical anxiety disorders. Left untreated, these conditions can have a lasting impact on a person’s functioning. 

So if anxiety is negatively your life, here’s what to tell your psychiatrist:

• When your anxiety symptoms started and how they show up in your mind and body

• What tends to trigger your anxiety

• Anything you’ve noticed about what makes your symptoms better or worse

• Any patterns you’ve identified (i.e. if your anxiety is worse at certain times of the day)

• What you’ve already tried to manage your symptoms, and what has or hasn’t worked

• How your anxiety affects your daily life, including your ability to work or go to school and maintain relationships

• Any physical health conditions you’re living with

• Your family history, including if a close relative like a sibling or parent also has anxiety

It’s OK if you don’t have all of this information. But generally speaking, the more specific you can be, the better. Providing concrete examples can help your psychiatrist get a deeper understanding of your experiences. It might help to take some notes before your appointment so you don’t forget anything.

Questions to ask your psychiatrist about anxiety

There are various mental health professionals who can help you manage your anxiety. For example, you might already be working with a therapist. But psychiatric providers approach anxiety disorder treatment in a specific way, and it often involves medication. 

To understand how your provider typically treats anxiety and to decide if it’s the right fit for you, you can ask them these questions:

• “What are your first steps in treating anxiety disorders? What can I expect from my first few appointments?”

• “What’s your experience in treating anxiety disorders in people like me?”

• “If we end up working together, what are some outcomes I can expect?”

• “How will you determine if I'm a good candidate for anxiety medication?”

• “How will you decide which medication to prescribe me? What factors go into that decision?”

• “What should I do if I feel like something isn’t working? For example, what if I experience unwanted side effects?”

• “How often will we need to meet, and will that change over time?”

• “What should I do if I have a question or concern between appointments? What’s the best way to get in touch with you? How soon should I expect a response?”

• “What types of insurance do you take, if any? Do you offer sliding-scale fees?”

• “Will you collaborate with my other providers? If so, what do I need to do to facilitate that?”

• “What if I need something other than medication to manage my anxiety? Do you offer therapy or other supports? What about referrals?”

What your anxiety psychiatrist may ask you

If you seek psychiatric care for anxiety, be prepared to answer lots of questions — especially at first. Your provider is going to request all sorts of details. For example, they’ll want to know about your family, social, medical, and mental health history. This information will help them assess your symptoms and provide an accurate diagnosis. 

They might ask these questions: 

• “How old were you when you first noticed anxiety symptoms?” 

• “What was happening in your life when your symptoms began?”

• “What are your most prominent symptoms?”

• “Do you experience anxiety in your mind? Body? Both?”

• “How often do you experience anxiety? Is it everyday?”

• “Does your anxiety prevent you from accomplishing daily tasks?”

• “Does your anxiety prevent you from doing things you enjoy?”

• “Has your anxiety affected your social life or relationships?”

• “Can you identify your triggers? Or does your anxiety seem random?”

• “Have there been times in your life when your anxiety was reduced or nonexistent?”

• “When has your anxiety been the worst? What was happening at that time?”

• “Does anyone in your family have an anxiety disorder?”

• “Have you ever taken mental health medication before? What was that like? Did it help?

• “Have you been diagnosed with any other conditions, mental or physical?”

• “Has your anxiety affected your sleep, eating habits, or weight?”

• “What medications or supplements are you currently taking?”

• “What are you doing to cope with your anxiety right now? Is it helping?”

• “Are you currently in therapy or engaging in any other forms of anxiety support?”

• “How do you feel about exploring medication as part of your anxiety treatment plan? Do you have any concerns?”

• “What would successful anxiety treatment look like to you?”

Remember, anxiety disorder treatment is a collaborative process, and your input matters. Your provider will ask many questions, but you should feel empowered to do the same thing. Asking questions and raising concerns can help your psychiatrist provide the best possible care for your needs.

Clinician’s take

As a psychiatric provider, I would tell someone who is hesitant to discuss anxiety symptoms that we all experience anxiety to a certain degree. However, when it becomes a problem in their daily lives that’s impacting functioning, it can be very difficult to manage and treat. I’d remind them that we’re here to help.

Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC

Clinical reviewer