The Ramblings of a "Mad Man"

Throughout my time as a person with anxiety, one thing has remained constant. I have never been properly treated by a general practitioner of medicine. Now, is it fair to say that all GPs are not knowledgeable when it comes to matters of the mind? No. There are some phenomenal GPs out there who have a huge amount of experience dealing with anxiety disorders, however I have not met one. So that is what my topic is today. How do you find a good doctor, how do you know if one is good, and what should you look for when looking for a doctor?

Finding a good doctor can be quite a chore. In fact, one book I read stated that, “on average, it takes a person with anxiety disorder a bout 10 years to get a good diagnosis from a doctor.” That seems awfully daunting and I can state that in my case 10 years was about right. I first discovered something was wrong in my late colleg days. I was in my early twenties. I spent a year going to doctor after doctor from neurologists to psychiatrists, from ENTs to psychologists. Nobody helped me in the least and most times I left feeling more lost than I did prior to the doctor’s visit. After all, if these professionals can’t figure out what is wrong with me, then I am deep trouble… It is hard not to think that way, but I promise you it is only a waste of time. So, how do you find a good doctor? I think you start with the basics. You are presently reading a post on an anxiety disorder site which in most cases would lead me to believe that you should start with someone who knows a lot about anxiety disorders. In my opinion, skip the GP, and go straight for the specialist. People who specialize in anxiety disorder can differentiate between the different flavors of anxiety and provide the correct therapy or medication you need. Now, is this a guaranteed success? No. I have had specialists tell me all kinds of things that in hindsight are ridiculous now. Your chances are much higher if you skip the GP though.

How do you know if my doctor is a good one? Well, watch him. Interview the doctor. Afterall, he is employed by you to fix your anxiety disorder. You have every right to make sure he is not only qualified as a doctor, but also has experience and compassion to provide you as a patient. You are purchasing a service, and it makes sense to check your source when purchasing a service. Some people use recommendations, others may find someone on-line, but in my opinion, the best way to find out if your doctor is good is to go see him. Meeting face to face is the best way bar none. If your doctor wants to simply stare at a pad and hand you prescription after a 15 minute one sided discussion, then he is not the doctor for you. Unless all you want are meds. I have found that it is good to make a list of questions to take with you and ask your doctor to answer them. How long have you been treating anxiety disorders, what is your typical course of action, do you prefer meds or a holistic approach? All of these things are very relevant when choosing a doctor. Sit down and create a list of questions that matter to you and never be afraid to shop around. There are a lot of doctors out there and just like auto mechanics, they aren’t all created equal.

I think I beat this one to death. My only advice in summary is to find someone who you are comfortable with, because comfort is really one of the biggest factors in a successful doctor. You must have confidence in who you choose and they should also have respect for you as their patient.

Just my piece,
OE