What doctors should do...

[Guest guest]

When someone comes in with a complaint of anxiety or depression there are a

number of tests that should be run to rule out physical issues that can be

causing the comlaints. Among them are thyroid tests and for women hormone level

tests. Vitamin levels can be checked and in fact a CBC should be done.

Anemia, thyroid, hormones....all of these can cause symptoms. That's one of the

reaons I say doctors are too quick to throw drugs at symptoms. A complete

physical should always be done. Once physical causes have been ruled out then

it's another ballgame.

Also, having asthma would cause anxiety on a base level. If you can't breath

effectively your body is going to go into hyper-alert mode or outright panic.

For me, my constant anxiety was *causing* asthma like symptoms. Which caused me

to become even *more* anxious. I honestly thought I was dying. That I had cancer

or something horrible like that. It's a wonder I never had a fullblown panic

attack.

So rule #1: The doctor must rule out physical causes first. Or at least as much

as is possible. It's not wrong to give something to the patient to help

alleviate anxiety or depression short term until the physical results come back.

But to medicate people without first ruling out physical causes can lead to

worse things. If it's the thyroid causing issues than medicating delays

treatment for a physical condition that can only become worse.

Vitamin deficiencies can cause anxiety and depression. They're just beginning to

learn a lot more about these things that our bodies need to function properly

and all the effects deficiencies of various vitamins and minerals can have on

the body.

So there are many physical issues that can manifest in anxiety or depressive

symptoms. That has to be where the doctor begins. Or *should* be.

Barbara