Diet for Stress Management Slideshow Take the Stress Quiz! Tips for Exercise, Diet and Stress Reduction

When to Seek Medical Care

• You should call your doctor when you are unable to identify the source of your stress or anxiety and if the condition continues or comes and goes.
  
  
  • If, in conjunction with your friends, family, or spiritual advisers, you cannot identify a source or solution for your anxiety and stress, your first resource should be your doctor.
    
    
  • A physical problem may be causing your symptoms. There may be a hidden cause thatrequires the assistance of a counselor to help uncover. Once your doctor has ruled out a medical cause for your symptoms, your doctor can be a great resource for other options in treatment of your stress symptoms.
    
    
  • Primary care doctors have many resources that they can use to help get to the source of your stress. You should never be embarrassed about your situation or the fact that you are seeking help. It is the doctor's role to help.
    
    
  • Remember, the sooner you get help, the sooner you will feel better. If you are having physical symptoms that seem either unrelated to stress or are worse than you have experienced in the past, you should consult your doctor immediately.
    
    
• You should call 911 or go to the nearest hospital's emergency department if your stress is resulting in any of these symptoms:
  
  
  • Thoughts about harming yourself
    
    
  • Thoughts about harming others
    
    
  • Chest pain
    
    
  • Fluttering or rapid heartbeats
    
    
  • Headaches unlike your usual headaches
    
    
  • Any condition that you feel might cause you serious harm if not treated immediately