Your Next Checkup May Involve an Anxiety Screening

Anxiety is common among Americans of all ages, and the prevalence of anxiety disorders only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of that, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that adults 64 and younger be screened for anxiety. That means your primary care provider may give you an anxiety screening at your next annual checkup to evaluate your mental health.

Read More: Anxiety vs. Panic Attacks: Understand the Difference

Why Anxiety Screenings Are Becoming the Norm

“Most of us feel anxious or on edge at one time or another, particularly when we’re doing something scary or outside our comfort zone. However, when occasional anxiety turns into a daily problem, you may have an anxiety disorder, which can cause a variety of mental health symptoms,” says Katie Durden, licensed independent social worker at Beaufort Memorial Sea Island Psychiatry who sees patients by referral.

In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 31.1% of Americans experience an anxiety disorder at some point.

There are many different anxiety disorders, including:

• Panic disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Social anxiety disorder

Each condition causes unique symptoms that can disrupt daily life. However, many different types of treatment can be used to help ease symptoms and stabilize your mental health.

Read More: Dealing With Anxiety? You’re Not Alone

What an Anxiety Screening Will Include

An anxiety screening is a simple process designed to give your medical provider a good look at your mental health. There’s no lab work involved, and you don’t have to take a formal test.

While each provider’s anxiety screening process may differ, some basics are involved. You may be asked to complete a patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9 is a common one) about your mental health, or a provider may ask you the questions instead.

There are different anxiety screening tools. One common tool, the GAD-7 screening, will ask how often you’ve been “bothered by the following problems” in the previous two weeks. Your answers will help your provider determine whether an anxiety disorder or another mental health condition could be causing your symptoms. Indicators can include:

• Becoming easily annoyed or irritable
• Being very restless
• Feeling afraid, nervous or on edge
• Feeling as if something awful may happen
• Having trouble relaxing
• Not being able to stop or control worrying
• Worrying excessively about multiple things

“Based on how many indicators you have and how often you’re experiencing them, your medical provider will determine a score,” Durden says. “This score correlates with whether you’re experiencing anxiety and how severe it is.”

While an anxiety screening will offer valuable insight into your mental health, it isn’t the final word on whether you have an anxiety disorder. It helps your provider determine how to proceed, whether you need mental health care or treatment for an underlying physical health concern. Many symptoms that affect your mental health can be rooted in your physical health, so your provider may also order routine lab work to determine if an underlying cause, like a vitamin deficiency, could be contributing to your symptoms.

What’s most important to remember is that your provider is here to help you be at your best — physically and mentally. If you may have an anxiety disorder, help is available through medications, behavioral therapy and other treatment options.

Your primary care provider can help keep an eye on your physical and mental health. If you are interested in therapy, have a discussion with your primary care provider and request a referral.