If you believe you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of an anxiety disorder then the best place to start is with the family doctor.  What he or she can do is help you determine if you are suffering from an actual anxiety disorder, normal stress because of your circumstances or even a serious medical condition.  If the doctor determines that an anxiety order is the cause then you will be referred to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or some other licensed counselor.

What kind of doctor should you work with?  It's important to find a doctor that's willing to help you and to listen to your requests.  Some doctors might recommend medication alone, which might not be the route you want to go.  You might like the idea of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is treatment without medication or with limited amounts, depending on the case.  You would want to choose a doctor with specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapy but also one who is opened to the possibility of medication if it is needed at some point in the future.

How can this be done, if only a psychiatrist can prescribe medicine and usually recommends medication over psychotherapy?  Most psychologists and other counselors work closely with a psychiatrist or another physician on anxiety cases.  Therefore, in the event that the doctor or you see fit to try some form of antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication a prescription could be written.  Psychotherapy and traditional medication are usually combined in session.  Psychotherapy may include group sessions as part of the treatment, or perhaps systematic desensitization for patients dealing with phobias or obsessive compulsive disorders.

It is important to inquire about your doctor or counselor's practices beforehand.  What kind of therapy do they generally recommend for the type of disorder you are trying to overcome?  You are not expected nor encouraged to participate in the therapy if you are not comfortable with it.  You can always find another doctor or counselor elsewhere.  Successful therapy must see the patient working with the therapist, not against him or her.  

Another issue is your existing medication.  If you are on any medication then the therapist or doctor must work with along with the treatment for the drug.  Many prescriptions drugs cannot be quit abruptly because of serious withdrawal side effects.  Therefore, it's important to communicate with your physician before making any drastic changes in treatment, especially when it involves medication.

You personally feel comfortable with your therapist or doctor, since trust is an important issue to treating anxiety disorder.  The two of you must work together as a team.  This will involve trusting the therapist's judgment as regards a time frame, various practices and medication.  While you may feel something is not working right away, the treatment might need more time to take effect.  Some treatment has been known to take six weeks or more to start to show a lessening of symptoms.

The most important point to remember is that there is help available to those who need it.  Don't assume that you have to live with anxiety.  If anxiety affects you an extreme degree and you have other symptoms of an anxiety disorder, then professional help could save your life.