Anxiety

We are licensed in Texas, New York, California, Washington, New Mexico, and Iowa, offering virtual appointments for anxiety care across these states.

Whether you're seeking support for yourself or a loved one, or simply looking to deepen your understanding of anxiety, we aim to provide you with knowledge, resources, and compassionate care.

Anxiety is a common yet often overwhelming mental health condition that can significantly affect daily life. While occasional worry or stress is a natural part of life, anxiety disorders involve persistent, excessive fear or apprehension that goes beyond typical stress responses. Recognizing the signs of anxiety and knowing when to seek help is essential to improving your well-being.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by intense, excessive, and prolonged worry or fear that can interfere with daily activities, relationships, and overall quality of life. While everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, anxiety disorders occur when these feelings are persistent, disproportionate to the situation, and difficult to control.

Types of anxiety disorders include:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Constant worry about various aspects of life, often without a clear reason
  • Panic Disorder – Sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms
  • Social Anxiety Disorder – Extreme fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations
  • Phobias – Intense fear of specific objects, places, or situations

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms can vary from person to person, but they often include both emotional and physical signs.

Emotional Symptoms

  • Constant worry or a feeling of dread
  • Restlessness or feeling “on edge”
  • Irritability or mood swings

Cognitive Symptoms

  • Difficulty concentrating or focusing
  • Racing thoughts
  • Overthinking and worst-case scenario thinking

Physical Symptoms

  • Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating or trembling
  • Muscle tension or headaches
  • Sleep disturbances or insomnia

 

These symptoms can make it difficult to manage work responsibilities, relationships, and personal goals.

How We Diagnose Anxiety

We take a thorough, patient-centered approach to diagnosing anxiety, beginning with a confidential virtual evaluation. This includes:

  • A detailed review of your medical and mental health history
  • A structured anxiety assessment to measure severity and symptom patterns
  • Screening for co-occurring conditions such as depression or PTSD

This comprehensive process allows us to accurately identify the type and severity of anxiety you may be experiencing and develop a personalized treatment plan.

GeneSight Testing for Anxiety

Finding the right medication for anxiety can sometimes involve trial and error. GeneSight testing helps by analyzing how your genes may affect your body’s response to certain psychiatric medications. With this information, we can select treatment options that are more likely to be effective and better tolerated, helping you feel relief sooner.

How We Treat Anxiety

At Polished Mind Psychiatry, we believe in a compassionate, evidence-based approach to managing anxiety. Your treatment plan will be customized to your needs and may include:

  • Medication management to help reduce overwhelming worry, physical symptoms, and sleep issues
  • Evidence-based therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help you reframe anxious thoughts and develop coping skills
  • Psychoeducation to help you understand anxiety triggers and build resilience
  • Lifestyle recommendations such as mindfulness techniques, stress-reduction exercises, and healthy sleep habits

We understand that every person’s experience with anxiety is unique. Our goal is to empower you to regain a sense of calm, confidence, and control over your life. If you or someone you care about is struggling with anxiety, seeking early support can make a meaningful difference in your recovery.

Take a Mental Health Test

Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.