Monday, January 23, 2012
Over the past few years there has been a considerable shift in our relationship with medicine. People of my generation were pretty well indoctrinated into the idea that sickness almost belonged to medicine. You gave yourself over to the doctor and you followed their orders. These days the picture has...
10 Things You Need to Know About Anxiety Medication 
7 Things Anxiety Sufferers Would Like their Family and Friends to Know 
7 Ways Your Body Says 'You're Stressed' 
16 Ways to Stop Stressing Out 
Hey Jerry
I think this is a great question. A lot of folk might come in to see their doctor expecting a cure or a fix for what ails them and it just doesn't work that way with anxiety. It is a collaboration. A doctor can help by suggesting treatments but in the end it is up to us to follow through.
Decreasing stress and anxiety, in general, helps with our overal health and well-being. And just because someone experiences a stress related physical symptom doesn't make it any less painful or scary.
Not sure how many primary care physicians are well versed in how to treat anxious patients. The doctor may simply not know what to suggest and send the person on their merry way.
But in answer to your original question...the responsibility is ours to learn how to cope with and manage our anxiety. The role of the doctor or therapist is to provide us with an array of treatment options and to explain these options.
Looking forward to hearing what our members think about this. Great post!