BILLINGS - Between soaring food and gas prices, questions of job security, and talk of a national financial crisis everywhere you turn, Americans are stressed out. Just ask Michelle Dillon, 40, of Billings.
"As a business owner, my husband's self-employed, i'm self-employed, insurance is an issue, money is an issue, gas is an issue, raising a family, we're all very, very, very busy and today's economy, it all adds up," said Dillon.
It has added up to the point of possibly making her physically ill.
"My symptoms are GI related: stomach, intestinal, that kind of stuff," said Dillon.
She is at St. Vincent Healthcare trying to figure out why for the past year, she hasn't been able to eat anything without feeling nauseous afterwards.
"We've run test, and tests, and tests, and thank goodness we never really find much, and I thing that's where we sit right now," she said.
And that is looking into anxiety as the culprit, said her doctor, Brad Fuller.
"There is no blood test or CAT scan for anxiety so we have to make sure it's nothing else and if they're still symptomatic, ah ha, maybe it is underlying stress," said Dr. Fuller.
He said there are several prescription drugs that people can take either short-term or long-term to lessen their anxiety, "A generic medicine called Citalopram is a popular one, Wellbutrin is another, there are several different medicines each one tailored to fit each individual person."
He said a healthy diet and regular exercise are other great ways to control anxiety, something Michelle said she is doing, as well as making time for the little things in life that do not cost a dime.
"Enjoying my kids, just trying to get back to the basics, what should make you happy and whole," said Dillon.
Separate from Dillon's case, Dr. Fuller said 70% of people with anxiety have underlying depression and either do not realize it, or are afraid to admit it. He said he wants people to know that it can be treated.
Doctors at St. Vincent Healthcare said in the past few months, they have seen an increase in patients seeking help for disorders that unknown to them, are actually stress related.