Anxiety Treatment in Northern Virginia
Your chest is tight before you’ve left the house. You rehearse conversations that never happen. You’ve been managing it, which is a word that covers a lot of ground.
Anxiety treatment at Rituality Wellness starts with a full evaluation, because symptoms make more sense when we understand the whole picture and the whole person.
American adults affected by an anxiety disorder each year
American adults living with any mental illness
Received no mental health treatment in the past year
urgent appointment requests at Rituality Wellness seen within 7 days.
What does anxiety treatment actually involve?
Anxiety treatment begins with an evaluation of your symptoms, history, sleep, stress and physical health. Anxiety treatment begins with an evaluation of your symptoms, history, sleep, stress, physical health, medications, and other factors that may be contributing. From there, we tailor the treatment plan. It may include medication, psychotherapy, practical coping strategies, changes in sleep or daily routines, or a combination of approaches.
Therapy can be effective on its own or alongside medication, and we can coordinate care with your therapist when appropriate.
Symptoms of anxiety can also be influenced or worsened by physical health conditions, sleep problems, medications, substances, or high caffeine intake. A thoughtful evaluation considers those possibilities rather than assuming every anxious symptom comes from an anxiety disorder.
Will medication flatten me?
That isn’t the goal. The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms while helping you continue to feel like yourself. Some people experience emotional blunting with certain medications, and that is something worth discussing during treatment rather than simply accepting
It is a common and reasonable concern, and something you should feel comfortable bringing up at follow-up visits.
Plenty of people rely on the edge that anxiety has been sharpening for years. Losing the dread while keeping the drive is what anxiety treatment is aiming at.
How does treatment fit around a work week?
- Initial evaluations are available in Haymarket or by telehealth when appropriate.
- Many follow-up appointments can be completed by video.
- Follow-up frequency depends on the treatment plan and whether medications are being started or adjusted.
- Telehealth can reduce travel and time away from work.
- The goal is to make consistent follow-up realistic within everyday life.
The types we treat
Anxiety treatment
Generalized anxiety disorder can involve persistent, difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life, often accompanied by restlessness, tension, sleep difficulty, or trouble concentrating.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks can come on rapidly and may involve a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness, or intense fear.
Social anxiety
Social anxiety is about being evaluated, not about being shy. Health anxiety is persistent fear of illness that survives normal test results.
A sample case study
An Illustrative Example. Not a real person.
A 36-year-old federal contractor in Gainesville books after a panic attack in a parking garage. She assumed it was her heart and spent 4 hours in an emergency room.
The evaluation identifies several factors worth exploring. 8 months of broken sleep, a caffeine intake she describes as normal and a clinician would not, and a father with a treated anxiety disorder she’d never thought to mention.
Her plan starts with medication, a sleep change, and 2 coping techniques she can use in the car. First follow-up at 3 weeks, second at 6.
At follow-up, the plan is adjusted based on her symptoms, sleep, side effects, and how she is functioning at work and at home. Over time, the goal is fewer panic attacks and less disruption without taking away the normal nervousness that comes with something like an important presentation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a psychiatrist for anxiety near me?
If you’ve searched for a psychiatrist for anxiety near you and encountered long waitlists, Rituality Wellness is another option for psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Care is provided by a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner for patients ages 12 and up, in Haymarket and by telehealth across Virginia.
Do I need therapy as well as medication?
Not necessarily. Therapy can be effective on its own for anxiety, and medication can also be an appropriate treatment depending on your symptoms, severity, preferences, and treatment history. For some people, combining therapy and medication provides additional benefits. Brief supportive and practical strategies may also be incorporated into medication-management visits at Rituality Wellness, and we can coordinate care with your therapist if appropriate.
Is anxiety medication addictive?
It depends on the medication. Many commonly used first-line treatments for anxiety, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, are not considered addictive, although they can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped too quickly. Other medications, including benzodiazepines, can lead to tolerance or dependence and are prescribed more cautiously. We discuss those differences openly when considering treatment options.
Can you treat teenagers for anxiety?
Yes, from age 12. Rituality Wellness provides evaluation and treatment for anxiety in adolescents ages 12 and up, with care tailored to the teenager’s symptoms, developmental stage, family context, and treatment needs.
Still looking for Anxiety Care?
For some people, anxiety has become tangled up with concepts of productivity and achievement. The goal isn’t to take away your motivation or personality. It’s to reduce the dread while helping you keep the drive.