Seeking Help in Washington: Steps to Get Diagnosed with Anxiety

Anxiety is one of those mental states that often get overlooked, as it is common to happen to everyone at some point in their lives. However, for some people, it is very important to get diagnosed with anxiety in order to receive treatment and avoid further negative impacts of anxiety on their daily functioning.

Anxiety comes in many forms and relates to different aspects of human lives. It is also a part of different disorders and can happen concurrently. For this exact reason, it is advisable to look for professional help in diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders.

Understanding Anxiety and Its Symptoms

Anxiety is a state of fear and worry, and everyone experiences it occasionally. When it becomes overwhelming and frequent, we might be talking about anxiety disorder. To get diagnosed with anxiety, you would have to manifest certain symptoms.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), symptoms people with anxiety experience are:

• Having an increased heart rate
• Sweating, shaking, or trembling
• Troubles sleeping
• Troubles concentrating or making decisions
• Feeling nauseous or having abdominal distress
• feeling irritable, tense, or restless
• having a sense of deadly danger, panic, or doom

Keep in mind that some of these signs are shared with other mental states and disorders, and they might not even be related to anxiety. For instance, panic attacks include anxiety, among other feelings and sensations. Learning about Panic vs. Anxiety Attack is a good start, but you will still probably need professional help to be sure which one you are experiencing.

Furthermore, there are several types of anxiety, each with its own specificities, so turning to a licensed professional is the only proper way to get diagnosed with anxiety.

Recognizing Specific Types of Anxiety

When mentioning anxiety, people usually think of general anxiety—those waves of fear and worry everyone gets to experience for different reasons. However, psychology distinguishes different types of this disorder, and it´s useful to know about them to get diagnosed with anxiety properly and get adequate treatment for it. 

Here are some types of anxiety to keep in mind:

• High functioning anxiety: People experiencing high-functioning anxiety are probably experiencing the most difficulties in getting diagnosed. These individuals appear calm and put together on the outside. They often seem successful and capable. They often push themselves and seek perfectionism and approval while dealing with inner anxieties. As with other types, worry is persistent, but so is perfectionism, workaholism, and difficulty relaxing.
• Relationship anxiety: Anxiety related to romantic relationships manifests itself as pervasive worry about the stability and future of the relationship, as well as the feelings and thoughts a partner has. Heightened sensitivity to signals of rejection is present, as is the need for reassurance, fear of abandonment, jealousy, overthinking, or even avoidance of commitment and intimacy. 
• Social anxiety in adults: As the name suggests, this type of anxiety is related to social situations and social groups. The overwhelming fear people with anxiety feel is related to appearing foolish in social situations or embarrassing themselves. It´s often overlooked, as it´s considered normal to feel nervous in some social situations, but this type of anxiety can significantly impact a person´s life if left untreated. 

Having in mind all these differences, how to get diagnosed with anxiety becomes an even more complex question. If you feel confused or worried about your mental state, it´s important to look for help.

First Steps to Seeking Help

The first step to getting diagnosed with anxiety is acknowledging you are struggling with intense emotions of fear and worry and recognizing they are negatively impacting some areas of your life. If unsure, you can always consult the list of symptoms left above or reach out to a professional who will know how to get professionally diagnosed with anxiety.

If, however, you are worried about someone else, you might find yourself wanting to help them. You can always share resources with them or get them to see a professional. Approaching someone with a problem might be a challenge, so be sure to learn as much as you can about helping someone with anxiety. Here are a few useful tips:

• Be a listener: Create a safe space for sharing and actively listen with no judgment. 
• Validate feelings: Acknowledge other´s emotions instead of minimizing them. 
• Encourage self-care: Remind them of the importance of self-care in reducing anxiety (like getting enough sleep).
• Offer practical help: Ask them what help they need and support them in that particular way. 
• Suggest seeking professional support: Encourage them to seek professional help and ensure they understand the benefits of doing so. 
• Show patience and understanding: Avoid pressuring them or expecting immediate results. Instead, offer ongoing support and reassurance.

Finding Professional Help for Anxiety

Even when you know that the right way to get diagnosed with anxiety is to seek a professional opinion, you might be unsure about where to put your trust. You might start by exploring Washington State Mental Health Services. Look for accredited institutions with licensed staff. Things you should pay attention to are years of experience, treatment options they offer, what they specialize in, and what their values are.

Keep your needs in mind. What sort of care would you like to receive, what type of therapy are you open to, and what sort of support do you expect during or after the treatment? Some questions to ask yourself also are: Do I want my family to be involved, and do I need inpatient treatment? 

Last but not least, ensure that the institution you prefer accepts your insurance. We Level Up WA accepts the majority of insurances, Cigna and Aetna being only some of them. If, however, your insurance is not accepted or you wish to finance your treatment on your own, we can explore a different payment option over a non-binding call.

How to Get Diagnosed with Anxiety

After realizing you are showing symptoms of anxiety and understanding you need help, the next question would be – how to get professionally diagnosed with anxiety?

Your diagnosis journey will probably start with a medical examination. A professional needs to exclude the possibility that some of your symptoms are related to your physical state (e.g., heart rhythm). 

The next step to get diagnosed with anxiety focuses on psychological and behavioral signs. A professional will collect information on your recent experiences of worry and fear when they present themselves and what seems to trigger them. Knowing that some of the risk factors for anxiety include abuse, severe losses, or other adverse experiences, the professional taking your history might also ask about these topics. 

Finally, after collecting all this data, a psychologist or psychiatrist makes an educated conclusion about anxiety. As an aid in this process, professionals can use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) developed by the American Psychological Association or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). These tools outline how to get diagnosed with anxiety.

Treatment Options for Anxiety Available in Washington

Once you receive a diagnosis of anxiety, you will be suggested different options for treating it. Medications are often included when symptoms are highly impacting one´s life. Psychotherapy is a golden standard for treating anxiety. Finally, alternative approaches, like meditation and mindfulness, nurture acceptance of emotions and their management. 

In terms of medications, you might be suggested to use anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, or beta-blockers. They have different effects and may reduce your anxiety short-term, improve mood, decrease stress, or affect physical symptoms of anxiety. 

As for psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy for certain types of anxiety are evidence-based and proven-to-work approaches one can rely on. They focus on changing behavioral patterns either by challenging the way a person thinks and draws conclusions or by exposing the person to a triggering situation to demonstrate the absence of a catastrophic outcome. 

Knowing that anxiety is a cluster of easy-to-trigger negative emotions, developing skills like mindfulness and emotional regulation is very significant. Learning to cope with situations that seem threatening, letting them pass without judgment, and remaining calm instead of worrying in advance are only some of the skills that can be acquired and implemented on a daily basis to reduce anxiety. 

At We Level Up Washington, during anxiety treatment in Spokane WA, we will use a combination of different approaches to help you achieve the best results. We always tailor treatments to each and every patient based on their needs. 

Maintaining Health and Wellness

Although getting treatment is the most beneficial thing you can do, there are several lifestyle changes you can implement to help manage or reduce anxiety. Some of the suggestions are:

• Be physically active
• Quit smoking, drinking, and consuming recreational drugs
• Reduce caffeine intake
• Develop a healthy sleeping pattern
• Eat healthy
• Use stress management techniques (like breathing exercises)

These changes are also advisable after receiving treatment. It´s important to continuously take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being.