Ranjan Patel

Yes, there is a difference. You can have anxiety without panic, though likely not the latter without the former. The treatment of the two conditions also varies. It's best to consult with a psychiatrist and/or a psychologist for this. There are many helpful therapies for it.

This can optimally be treated using a combination of CBT, ACT, mindfulness training methods, e.g. meditation and deep breathing. Identifying external triggers and mediating them can also be useful. Sometimes, medication either preventively or as needed (PRN), (seeing a psychiatrist) can also help.

It depends on whether your medication is to prevent it or to treat it on a "PRN" basis, or pro re nata--"take as needed." Your psychiatrist or doctor will have written the instructions on your bottle. Take as prescribed.

Yes, sometimes irritability is a symptom of depression and/or anxiety. There are some anti-depressants that do target this. It would be best to see both a psychiatrist for an assessment and/or medications plus a therapist to help you cope with triggers.

It would be best to get an assessment for her, e.g. a child psychologist would best be able to treat her with modalities specifically geared for child tx. Though it may seem like a lot to do, think of this as an investment in her future. The child psychologist will also give you tips in dealing with her anger, so that you and your daughter will become allies in this.

Alcohol dependency is a difficult addiction, and requires multiple modalities for successful treatment. A psychiatrist (for potential medication prescription), a psychologist or therapist to help with coping strategies, and a group support system, such as a 12 step is best for an optimal and sustained outcome.

Thank you for your question. Yes, talk therapy can be extremely effective for all forms of anxiety! Whether you're taking medication or not, psychotherapy can augment by teaching you skills to deal with your anxiety and the ways it manifests in your life. If you've never tried therapy, please give it a chance. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Best of luck and congratulations for being proactive about your mental health.

Yes, absolutely--there are therapists who specialize in working with children, and can easily help a child with anxiety (and other issues). A wide variety of therapies are used, e.g. play therapy where the therapist uses games or has a sand tray with figures to represent the difficulties and feelings the child is having. Art therapy is also another method to which children often respond well. If your child is anxious, please don't hesitate and get a few consultations on the phone, which should be free--most therapists will be happy to discuss your options free of charge. Good luck and thank you for asking the question!

Wow, how wonderful that you're proactive about healing and helping yourself! Yes, you can do CBT with yourself, and in fact, this is the best way on a daily basis. There are many excellent books, apps, etc. to help you. "Feeling Good" by David Burns, MD is a phenomenal introduction to cognitive behavior--it's written well and also has a workbook. An app, called "MindShift" takes you through a step by step process of figuring out how your thoughts connect to your feelings. Please know that it will help you exponentially to have a professional, e.g. therapist, psychologist, etc. guide you through a process. Even if you go only for a few sessions, you're likely to get infinitely more help than if you do it on your own. In this time of Covid-19 and 'shelter in place,' most therapists are conducting sessions online--it's as easy as a phone/video call! There's likely to be many affordable therapists in your state. Just as, because you have teeth, you would not hesitate to make an appt with a dentist--or because you have eyes, you would not think twice to go see an optometrist, please do not see it as a failing or weakness to see a therapist. You have a soul, a heart, a psyche ... and seeing a therapist should not be a source of stigma or embarrassment. If anything, it takes guts and courage to get help when you need it. I wish you the best in getting that book and app ... and hopefully, a therapist :-)!

Anxiety is a legitimate condition, which is treatable. There is no need for you to suffer; anxiety can take many different forms, e.g. general, panic attacks, phobias, ruminations, etc. It can also be accompanied with physical symptoms. Please schedule an appointment with a therapist or psychologist to assess and treat your anxiety. In this time of pandemic, most therapists are doing video appts, which are just as effective as in-office sessions. For more information on anxiety and its treatment, please see my article:
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addressing-anxiety-and-the-negative-feedback-loop-0124137
I wish you all the best with your anxiety :-)

If you regular have medication management appointments with your psychiatrists, and take your meds as prescribed, no they are not dangerous. If anything, they are likely to lessen your symptoms, suffering and help you function better. Because you're taking meds for anxiety, one of your symptoms is worrying that your meds are "dangerous!" This thought is not a fact--it's simply a fleeting, passing thought.

If your friend has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, it cannot be left untreated. It is likely that he either has symptoms (which he may or may not acknowledge)--or will have symptoms in the future. Either way, he should be monitored by a psychiatrist (who can prescribe medication) and also do psychotherapy with a therapist, who will help him with coping strategies for life.

If your depression is mild to moderate and you're able to function, e.g. work, etc. you can try a few interventions that do not involve medication: increase your consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids--eat more fish such as salmon , sardines, trout and also take a reputable brand of supplement (minimum of 1 gram). Other sources include flaxseed, algae oil. Also, be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens. The other action that's been shown to be as effective as medication is regular cardiovascular exercise, a minimum of 30 minutes a day--any form of movement which increases your heart-rate, even if it's simply walking briskly in the fresh air--this would be an excellent behavior. Another intervention: please find a therapist for psychotherapy. You need not go for years, only to learn some coping skills for your depression. Call several therapists till you find someone whom you have rapport with, preferably someone who does CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and mindfulness practices. All of these interventions do not involve medication and by doing them, you'll feel proactive, an advocate for yourself, you'll be taking action and simply by taking ownership of your present and, you'll feel better and more encouraged about your future. I wish you the best. Please be sure you're under the supervision of your medical doctor who can supervise your omega 3 supplementation and also your general health.

If your depression is mild to moderate and you're able to function, e.g. work, etc. you can try a few interventions that do not involve medication: increase your consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids--eat more fish such as salmon , sardines, trout and also take a reputable brand of supplement (minimum of 1 gram). Other sources include flaxseed, algae oil. Also, be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens. The other action that's been shown to be as effective as medication is regular cardiovascular exercise, a minimum of 30 minutes a day--any form of movement which increases your heart-rate, even if it's simply walking briskly in the fresh air--this would be an excellent behavior. Another intervention: please find a therapist for psychotherapy. You need not go for years, only to learn some coping skills for your depression. Call several therapists till you find someone whom you have rapport with, preferably someone who does CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and mindfulness practices. All of these interventions do not involve medication and by doing them, you'll feel proactive, an advocate for yourself, you'll be taking action and simply by taking ownership of your present and, you'll feel better and more encouraged about your future. I wish you the best. Please be sure you're under the supervision of your medical doctor who can supervise your omega 3 supplementation and also your general health.

I am so sorry for what you're going through. Please do not suffer needlessly. Yes, a psychiatrist and psychologist can definitely help you. Please make an appointments with each type of doctor. A psychiatrist is someone who can prescribe medication--he/she will assess whether you're a candidate for medication intervention, and if you choose to take it, he/she will monitor you while you're on it. It is also very important that you see a psychologist or a therapist with whom you do psychotherapy--they can teach you coping skills for your depression, e.g. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and mindfulness practices. When you start feeling better and have more energy, your therapist will also guide you to daily cardiovascular exercise and increased fish (salmon and sardines/flaxseed) in your diet. Omega 3 supplements are also a good idea. Please make an appointment today preferably with both a psychiatrist and a psychologist. If it feels too difficult to make these appointments or if you feel overcome by inertia, ask someone else, e.g. a family member or friend, make these appointments for you. And when the time comes for you to go to the appointment, even if you feel a sense of hopelessness about them helping you, take a leap of faith in that you have nothing to lose--and everything to gain--by at least going to each appointment once. I wish you the best, and trust you will feel better.

It's fantastic that you've taken a positive step toward healing yourself. The standard treatment for anxiety and panic attacks is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness Training. You will learn to identify your thoughts that trigger and sustain your anxiety, and to nudge your mind toward more ease. You will also learn how to physiologically "downshift" and regulate your symptoms, e.g. your breathing and awareness/focus. This explanation might seem abstract, but when you go to therapy and begin practicing, it will become clear. For a more detailed explanation of anxiety, please see my article here:
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addressing-anxiety-and-the-negative-feedback-loop-0124137

Please make an appointment with a psychiatrist, who is most likely to treat this legitimate symptom. Though we are not certain of the causes for SAD, some hypothesis include: lowered neurotransmitter serotonin and disruption of your body's internal clock to less sunlight. Effective treatments include: Broad-spectrum light therapy with wavelengths between 280-320 nm which allow the skin to produce vitamin D, vitamin D supplements with good absorption, SSRI's, regular (preferably daily) cardiovascular exercise in daylight, Omega 3 supplements. A psychiatrist would be able to treat SAD. I wish you well!

Grief and sadness is a natural and normal reaction/process. It may be that you have "complicated" grief or that that your sadness morphed into "depression." I'm speculating because I don't know you, but definitely you could benefit from seeing a therapist. He/she can help you explore and clarify what you're feeling, delve into your memories and how they intersect with your present and future. I think you'll do well in therapy and I wish you the best of luck!

Yes, absolutely, your daughter can benefit hugely from doing psychotherapy in addition to taking medication. It's in therapy that she'll learn many coping skills to make her life more manageable. Please interview several therapists until you find one that she has a good rapport with--it's best if your daughter talks to the therapist before making the first appt. Good luck to you!

Please seek therapy, where a therapist can evaluate the reasons why this is happening, as well as teach you coping strategies. It's unclear whether this is a mild form of generalized anxiety, or if it's a socially triggered reaction ... it could be many things, and working with a therapist will help give you a greater sense of being able to handle these high pressure situations. Good luck to you!