Anxiety Disorders

Mental health conditions marked by excessive, persistent fear and worry that disrupt daily life, cause distress, and may include sudden panic attacks peaking within minutes.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal, protective “fight-or-flight” response to stress. Your heart rate and breathing increase, your muscles tense, and your attention narrows to help you handle a challenge—like a job interview, the first day of school, or waiting for medical results.

When worry becomes excessive, persistent, and hard to control—or starts interfering with work, school, relationships, or daily activities—it may be an anxiety disorder.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

Physical
Headaches and muscle tension or aches
Fatigue and sleep disturbance
Stomach upset (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain)
Shortness of breath, chest tightness, sweating, trembling
Heart palpitations or elevated blood pressure
Reduced libido

Other Conditions

Wellness isn’t a destination, it’s a journey - and it starts with the decision to take that first step.

We have moved beyond symptom management and treatment resistance. We find and treat the root cause.

When does Anxiety become a disorder?

If anxiety is intense, lasts most days for six months or more (time frames vary by diagnosis), leads to avoidance, and disrupts daily life, it may meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Without treatment, symptoms can worsen over time.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Ongoing, hard-to-control worry about multiple areas of life, often with restlessness, fatigue, and tension.
Panic Disorder: Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and worry about having more attacks; may lead to avoidance.
Agoraphobia: Anxiety about situations where escape may be difficult (e.g., crowds, public transport), often avoided.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social or performance situations.
Specific Phobias: Marked fear of a particular object or situation (e.g., heights, flying, needles).
Separation Anxiety Disorder & Selective Mutism: More common in childhood but can occur at any age.
Note: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are closely related conditions but are classified separately from anxiety disorders. They can still involve significant anxiety.

15+

Years of experience

What causes Anxiety Disorders?

There is no single cause. Contributing factors can include:
Genetics & brain circuitry/chemistry
Temperament (e.g., behavioral inhibition, high sensitivity)
Life stress & trauma (early or adult adversity)
Medical conditions (e.g., thyroid disease, arrhythmias) and certain medications/substances
Family history of anxiety or other mental disorders
Female sex (some anxiety disorders are more common in women)
Substance misuse can trigger or worsen anxiety. Depression commonly co-occurs with anxiety.

Who is at risk?

Risk increases with early life adversity or trauma, chronic stress (financial/job loss/bereavement), chronic illness, certain personality traits (e.g., shyness/rigidity), family history, and substance use.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Your plan is individualized and may include:

1. Psychotherapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure-based therapies (first-line for many anxiety disorders)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, mindfulness-based interventions, relational and psychodynamic therapies
EMDR when trauma-related symptoms are present

2. Medication Management

SSRIs/SNRIs are commonly first-line; buspirone for GAD; beta-blockers can help with performance anxiety
Short-term benzodiazepines may be considered in select cases; we emphasize safe, judicious use

3. Lifestyle & adjunctive supports

Sleep optimization, regular physical activity, and stress-management skills
Nutrition counseling; discussion of nutraceuticals when appropriate
Skills practice and coping strategies you can use in daily life
Telepsychiatry available for convenience

Some plans may also include neurofeedback or other innovative therapies when clinically appropriate.

If persistent anxiety is affecting your life, Vivabest Psychiatry can help. Call our office or schedule an appointment online—in-person and telepsychiatry visits are available

Anxiety evaluation and diagnosis

We use a patient-centered, evidence-based approach:
Comprehensive clinical interview covering symptoms, triggers, and functional impact
Screening tools and, when indicated, psychological testing
Medical review to rule out contributing conditions or medications
Assessment for co-occurring conditions, such as depression, trauma-related symptoms, or substance use
This helps us provide an accurate diagnosis and a tailored care plan.