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Anxiety

Persistent worry, restlessness, racing thoughts. Common and treatable.

Speak to a GP about anxietyFrom £79
A doctor consulting about Anxiety

In short

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK. A GP can help with assessment, lifestyle advice, signposting to NHS Talking Therapies, and where appropriate, prescription medication. ThanksDoc is not an emergency service.

Overview

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal human response to stress. It becomes a problem when it's persistent, excessive, or interferes with daily life. There are several types: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, and others. Around 1 in 6 UK adults experience symptoms in any given week.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • Persistent feelings of worry or unease
  • Restlessness or feeling on edge
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sleep problems
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension
  • Racing heart, sweating, trembling
  • Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP when anxiety is affecting your daily life, has lasted several weeks, or you're experiencing physical symptoms like chest tightness or racing heart (which always warrant assessment to rule out heart conditions).

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm , please use the crisis resources above
  • Severe panic attacks with chest pain (always rule out cardiac causes first)
  • Inability to function (work, eat, sleep) for more than a few days
  • Symptoms following childbirth (postnatal anxiety needs specialist support)

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Confidential assessment of symptoms and contributing factors
  • Validated screening tools where helpful (GAD-7, PHQ-9)
  • Lifestyle advice on the factors that affect anxiety (sleep, exercise, alcohol, caffeine, screens)
  • Signposting to NHS Talking Therapies, free, self-referral, no GP needed
  • Where appropriate, prescription of SSRIs such as sertraline or escitalopram (these are not controlled drugs)
  • Onward referral to community mental health services if more support is needed

What we don't do

  • Provide emergency mental health crisis care, please use the resources listed above
  • Prescribe benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam, etc.), these are controlled drugs and not appropriate for primary anxiety treatment
  • Provide formal psychiatric assessment or specialist mental health care (refer to NHS)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about anxiety starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about anxiety

Will I need medication?
Not always. Talking therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment for many people and is available free via NHS Talking Therapies. Medication helps in moderate-to-severe cases and is usually combined with therapy.
Are SSRIs addictive?
SSRIs are not addictive in the way benzodiazepines or opioids are. However, they should be tapered slowly when stopping to avoid discontinuation effects.
What free support is available?
NHS Talking Therapies (self-refer online). Mind for information and local support groups. Samaritans (116 123) for someone to talk to anytime.
How long does treatment take to work?
Talking therapy typically takes 6-20 weeks. SSRIs take 4-6 weeks to reach full effect, sometimes longer.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about anxiety?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

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