Anxiety Treatment in Lexington, SC

When Anxiety Becomes a Disorder

Worry and nervousness are normal. Anxiety is considered a disorder when it is excessive, hard to control, lasts for weeks or months, and interferes with work, school, relationships, sleep, or health. Common anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder, with persistent, hard-to-control worry about many things, often with muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, or trouble sleeping
• Panic disorder, with sudden episodes of intense fear along with a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling of losing control, and worry about having more
• Social anxiety disorder, with intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social or performance situations
• Specific phobias and separation anxiety, which are especially common in children

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are related conditions that we also evaluate and treat.

What an Anxiety Evaluation Includes

We talk with you about your symptoms, when they started, what triggers them, and how they affect your life. We also review your medical history, medications, caffeine, alcohol, and substance use, and sleep, because several of these can cause or worsen anxiety. Thyroid problems, heart rhythm problems, and some medications can also produce anxiety-like symptoms, so we may recommend that you follow up with your primary care provider. We also screen for depression, trauma, ADHD, and other conditions that often occur with anxiety.

Treatment Options

Anxiety is very treatable. A plan is built around your diagnosis, age, preferences, and other health conditions, and may include:

• Psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including exposure-based approaches, is a well-supported treatment for anxiety disorders. We can coordinate a referral to a therapist.
• Medication. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs are commonly used first-line medications for anxiety disorders, even when depression is not present. Other options include buspirone and, for some patients, hydroxyzine or short-term, situation-specific medications. Benzodiazepines can relieve severe anxiety quickly but carry risks of dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal, so they are used cautiously and for limited periods, if at all.
• Healthy habits, such as regular sleep, physical activity, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and relaxation and breathing skills

Many people notice some improvement within a few weeks of starting a daily medication, with fuller benefit over time. Antidepressants carry an FDA boxed warning about suicidal thoughts in children, teens, and young adults, so we monitor closely, especially early in treatment.

Anxiety in Children and Teens

Anxiety in young people can look like stomachaches, irritability, clinginess, school avoidance, or perfectionism, rather than obvious worry. Treatment often involves the family, strategies for school, therapy, and, when needed, medication. See our child and adolescent psychiatric care page.

In-Person and Telehealth Care

You can be seen in our Lexington office or by telepsychiatry if you are located in South Carolina during your visit. Follow-up care is provided through medication management visits.

Safety Note

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, or you cannot keep yourself safe, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Panic attacks are frightening but are not usually dangerous; if you have chest pain or trouble breathing for the first time, seek urgent medical evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions