By MindWise HealthAnxiety Treatment
13 treatment centers 13 services offered
13 treatment centers on Curivya list Anxiety Treatment, across Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. 12 of them also list telehealth appointments. Insurance accepted across these listings includes Aetna, Telus formerly Behavioral Health Systems, Cigna Evernorth Behavioral Health and Devoted Health Plans, among others. Plans differ even within one insurer, so confirm your specific plan with the practice before booking. The same locations also list Medication Management, Depression Treatment, PTSD and Trauma Treatment, Telehealth Services and Mood Disorder Treatment.
Anxiety treatment helps when worry, panic or fear has started to shape your days: avoiding places, losing sleep, struggling to concentrate, or feeling physically on edge most of the time. It covers generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety and specific fears, and it is one of the most common reasons people first see a mental health professional.
Care is usually therapy, medication, or both. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most established talk therapy for anxiety, and some people also take medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Either can take some weeks to show results, so early progress is often gradual.
What treatment involves
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you notice the automatic, often inaccurate thoughts that drive anxiety and learn to question them. For panic and phobias, therapy often includes gradual, planned exposure to the things you have been avoiding, done at a pace you agree with your therapist. Acceptance and commitment therapy, which leans on acceptance and mindfulness, is another option some therapists use.
When medication is part of the plan, antidepressants in the SSRI and SNRI families are commonly prescribed for anxiety and may take several weeks to start working. Some faster-acting medications carry a risk of dependence, which is one reason prescribers use them carefully. Questions about any of these belong with your prescriber.
When anxiety is not the only thing going on
Anxiety often travels with other problems: depression, poor sleep, or physical symptoms such as a racing heart or stomach trouble. A good evaluation looks at the whole picture, and a medical check-up can rule out physical causes of symptoms that feel like anxiety. Regular exercise, enough sleep and cutting back on caffeine can support treatment, but they are a complement to it, not a replacement when anxiety is getting in the way of your life.
Who you will see
Therapy is provided by licensed therapists, such as clinical social workers, professional counselors and psychologists. Medication is prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Some practices offer both under one roof; others offer one and refer for the other.
The first appointment and after
Expect questions about when the anxiety started, what sets it off, what you have started avoiding, and how it affects sleep, work and relationships. You may fill out a short questionnaire. Therapy for anxiety usually involves practice between sessions, so the work is not only in the room.
When you call, ask whether the clinician you would see works with anxiety specifically, whether sessions can be held by video, how soon a new patient can be seen, and whether your plan covers therapy, medication visits or both.
Common questions about Anxiety Treatment
Is therapy or medication better for anxiety?
Neither is right for everyone. Many people do well with therapy alone, some with medication, and some with both. A clinician can help you weigh the options against how severe the anxiety is and what you have tried before.
How long does anxiety treatment take?
It differs from person to person, and both therapy and medication take time to work. Ask your therapist how progress will be measured so you can tell whether the approach is helping.
Can anxiety be treated by telehealth?
Therapy and medication follow-ups for anxiety are often done by video. For some people, especially those with social anxiety, starting from home makes the first appointment easier to keep.
What if I have a panic attack and think something is medically wrong?
Chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting should be checked medically, especially the first time; call 911 if it feels like an emergency. Once a medical cause is ruled out, panic attacks are a common focus of anxiety treatment.