Like having any illness diagnosed, it takes a professional who is certified to diagnose someone with anxiety. An individual who has seen symptoms of anxiety in themselves, should talk to their doctor about these concerns. The doctor will typically ask some questions about medical history, and may run some tests in order to rule out other conditions. A lab test cannot diagnose an anxiety disorder but it can rule out other issues like those in the thyroid. The doctor may send the person to a psychiatrist or another mental health professional. Those doctors will also ask the person questions and may do a test. They will consider how long the symptoms have been present.