When you’re experiencing constant anxiety, and it’s severe enough to disrupt your life, it’s time to see your doctor for an evaluation. The doctor will start by asking for your medical history. Then you’ll be asked about your anxiety symptoms. For example, how long you’ve been experiencing them, and how they affect your day-to-day life. The doctor will also ask what factors in your life cause you stress and trigger your symptoms.

A number of questionnaires can help diagnose anxiety problems. These anxiety tests rate your symptoms to determine whether you have an anxiety disorder, and if so, how severe it is. You may be asked to fill out these questionnaires on your own, or a doctor or nurse may ask the questions while you respond. Anxiety tests are also available online, to help you determine whether you might have a problem before seeking help from your health care provider.

Typical questions on an anxiety test ask whether you are troubled by excessive worry, whether you feel bored or tired, and if you have physical symptoms such as tight muscles or stomach problems. The test may ask whether you’ve had more difficulty sleeping or eating than usual, or if you’ve used alcohol or drugs.

Your doctor may also order some diagnostic anxiety tests. These tests can help determine whether your symptoms stem from an underlying medical disorder. Your doctor might order thyroid and lung function tests, a glucose tolerance test, a blood test to check iron and sugar levels, an electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate the electrical activity of your heart, and endoscopy to search for stomach issues.

The doctor might need to order several anxiety tests to arrive at a diagnosis. The components of your evaluation will depend on your medical history, symptoms, and what risk factors you have for other illnesses.