How to Ask Your Doctor For Anxiety Medication

We’ve all been there — getting up the courage to ask your boss for PTO, having a conversation with your partner about properly using a laundry hamper, or telling your parents you don’t want to go study at their alma mater.

Regardless of the nerves that may accompany these types of confrontations, speaking up about your needs is important. After all, we can’t expect others to understand what we want unless we communicate our needs.

When it pertains to your mental health, the conversation is extra important.  If you’re experiencing anxiety to the degree that it’s interfering with your everyday life, you may be considering asking your doctor for anxiety medication. And to that, we say, good for you!

Anxiety disorders are very common, with roughly 7 million Americans experiencing varying degrees of anxiety each year. They’re also treatable. So, how do you ask about treatment?

If you’re having anxiety about asking for anxiety medications, don’t sweat the irony. Below you’ll find all the info you need about how anti-anxiety medications work, who prescribes them, and how to talk to your healthcare provider about the best anxiety treatment plan for you.

Step one of getting matched with the right anxiety medication is acknowledging that you need one, so you’re off to a great start. 

Next, you need to talk to your doctor. 

Depending on your past experiences with healthcare providers or your general relationship with communicating your needs, this might trigger some nerves — and that’s okay. 

Being straightforward about your struggles and interest in medication is important for getting the most out of your conversation. 

You might say something along the lines of, “I’m struggling with significant anxiety, and I’d like to talk about medication options.” This can be a good place to start. 

You can prepare yourself and potentially calm some of your nerves by understanding what to expect at this appointment, during which your provider will probably first ask you to expand on your symptoms, like: 

• Constant worry about minor matters

• Difficulty winding down at the end of the day

• Irritability

• Lack of energy or fatigue

• Feeling restless

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering information, or making decisions 

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Muscle tension or physical aches and pains

They will probably also ask how you’re coping with these symptoms. This might open a conversation about habits like smoking, drinking, binge eating, or engaging in reckless behaviors. 

Addressing any lifestyle habits that aren’t serving you will likely also be a part of your treatment plan.

To be the most prepared for your appointment, it can help to: 

• Know your family history. Many mental illnesses have a genetic component and can be passed down from family members. Does your mom suffer from depression? Is there a family history of social anxiety? To make the best recommendation, it’s helpful for your provider to have as much context as possible. 

• Know your medications. Your provider will want to know what other medications you’re taking in case they interact with anti-anxiety meds, so make sure to have the names and dosages ready.

• Have a list of questions. Medical appointments are (unfortunately) often brief and hard to schedule, so it’s important to ensure you get everything covered. In the days before your appointment, write down a list of questions so you don’t forget to ask about certain things. Make the list on your phone so you won’t forget to bring it with you.

It’s normal to feel nervous when talking to your provider about a mental health condition. Remember that their job is to help you, not judge you. You’re not saying or asking anything they haven’t heard before, so be honest about your symptoms of anxiety and goals for treatment.

Anxiety medications require a prescription. While there are several routes you can take to get one, there are two main types of healthcare providers who can prescribe anti-anxiety drugs:

• Primary healthcare providers

• Psychiatrists 

Primary Healthcare Provider

Reaching out to your primary healthcare provider (sometimes called primary care physician or PCP) — yes, the same one who does your annual physical — is a great place to start because you already have a relationship with them. They have a record of your medical history, so it might feel less intimidating when opening up.

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are trained in treating mental disorders, whether you’re dealing with social anxiety, panic disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). 

They’re sometimes confused with psychologists, who tend to look at mental health through the lens of human behavior and usually don’t prescribe medication, whereas psychiatrists are physicians who hone in more on the biological and chemical factors of mental health. 

Though psychiatrists are generally the ones known for prescribing medication, in certain states, some psychologists can as well if they have the training. 

You might want to consider seeing a psychiatrist if:

• You’re having trouble controlling your emotions

• Your sleep patterns have shifted

• You’re self-medicating with drugs or alcohol

• Your work is struggling 

• You’re less social than usual

• Your anxiety is getting worse

Online Psychiatry Service

As much as we love and advocate for all healthcare providers, it’s not uncommon for in-office appointment scheduling to be challenging. 

If you’re interested in connecting with a mental health care provider and want to do so sooner rather than later, the Hers online psychiatry platform can connect you with a licensed provider virtually.

While most licensed healthcare providers can prescribe anxiety medications, in some cases, they may refer you to a mental health specialist for ongoing management. 

For more information, check out our guide on who to see for anxiety.  

Mental health care and awareness have come a long way, but there’s still sometimes a stigma associated with having anxiety. 

We want to acknowledge that your mental health matters, and pursuing treatment is a big deal — it’s a positive step forward in your life, and we’re here for it. 

If your anxiety is interfering with your life, medication might be the right choice. 

There are many types of anxiety, and your symptoms may look different from someone you know with anxiety. 

Resist the urge to self-diagnose your anxiety using Dr. Google (which rarely ends with you feeling better) and, instead, make an appointment to speak with a healthcare professional. They will help identify what kind of anxiety you’re dealing with and the most appropriate treatment. 

A common part of treating an anxiety diagnosis is anxiety medication. There are lots of options, and there’s no one-size-fits-all prescription. Each has its own side effects, with some being more difficult to manage than others, and the various types work differently. 

We’ve outlined some of the most popular anti-anxiety medications, along with the important things to know about them when discussing them with your doctor. 

Antidepressants

Antidepressants aren’t just for depression; they’re also frequently prescribed as first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. 

These medications target certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, to help boost mood.

The two primary kinds of antidepressants are:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These work by increasing your serotonin levels. Common examples include fluoxetine (Prozac®), citalopram (Celexa®), escitalopram (Lexapro®), and sertraline (Zoloft®). 

• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): These work similarly to SSRIs, except they also target norepinephrine. Two of the most well-known SNRIs are venlafaxine (Effexor®) and duloxetine (Cymbalta®).

For more details on how these medications work, including their side effects, check out our full list of antidepressants. 

Benzodiazepines

Antidepressants may take a few weeks to kick in for your body to feel their effects fully, but benzodiazepines provide immediate relief, which is attractive when your mental health is suffering. 

However, while they work quickly, they also pose a higher risk of dependency, so they’re typically prescribed for a shorter period. Paradoxically, they sometimes make anxiety worse if they’re used everyday for an extended period of time.

One older study showed that while there’s still uncertainty about how the brain may be negatively affected by long-time benzodiazepine use, it appears that certain areas can recover after withdrawal. 

Some common benzodiazepines you might’ve heard of include alprazolam (Xanax®), clonazepam (Klonopin®), lorazepam (Ativan®), and diazepam (Valium®). 

Beta Blockers

Beta-blockers are used to slow your heart rate down. Though they’re primarily used to treat cardiovascular health conditions like hypertension, they may also be prescribed off-label for anxiety symptoms associated with social anxiety disorder or performance anxiety.

Propranolol (Inderal®) and atenolol (Tenormin®) are the most common beta blockers used for anxiety. They don’t treat the mental feeling of anxiety, but they can do a good job blocking the physical manifestations, such as tremor, sweating, and racing heart. For some people, that’s enough, especially if the anxiety is only present during public presentations or performances.

Buspirone

If antidepressants or benzodiazepines aren’t working for you, your provider might recommend buspirone (BuSpar®). Buspirone, which is an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) drug used to treat GAD.

Buspirone may take longer to improve mood and may not always work as well, but it has fewer side effects than other medications and can be a long-term treatment option.

We’ve only scratched the surface, but our anti-anxiety medication guide can help answer more in-depth questions you may have.

Prioritizing your mental health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Here are some key steps to take when anxiety or other forms of mental illness are taking a toll on your life:

• Ask about medication. If we want something, we have to ask for it. Set up an appointment with your healthcare provider of choice and have that first conversation about medication options. Getting a prescription can be a great first step to prioritizing your mental health when you’re struggling,

• Seek therapy. Honestly, we could all benefit from therapy, whether it’s psychotherapy (talk therapy), exposure therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). And if in-person isn’t your thing, online therapy is a great alternative. Medication and therapy go hand-in-hand for treating anxiety.

• Practice other forms of self-care. “Self-care” is more than just some buzzword the wellness girlies say. It’s about normalizing mental health and taking daily action to prioritize your needs. This could look like going for nature walks, carving out time to meditate, journaling, or listening to calming music to soothe your nervous system and alleviate anxious thoughts. 

We care about your mental health and want to help you get the treatment and support you need. Get connected with one of our licensed mental health professionals by taking our free online assessment.