Anxiety
Treatment You deserve to feel calm again.

Evidence-based evaluation and treatment for generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and anxiety-related conditions, managed by a physician who takes your mental health as seriously as your physical health.

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When Worry Takes Over Your Life Anxiety That
Deserves Real Treatment

Anxiety is not just feeling nervous before a big presentation. For millions of people, anxiety is a persistent, exhausting condition that affects sleep, relationships, work performance, and physical health in measurable ways. Racing thoughts that will not stop. A constant sense that something is wrong even when nothing is. Physical symptoms like a pounding heart, chest tightness, and shortness of breath that feel alarming every time they appear.

At Superior Health Medical and Wellness, Dr. Akers evaluates anxiety with the same clinical rigor she applies to any medical condition. She takes a thorough history, distinguishes between anxiety disorders, rules out physical causes of anxiety symptoms, and develops a treatment plan that may include medication, lifestyle interventions, and coordinated behavioral health referrals.

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Anxiety evaluation and treatment at Superior Health Medical and Wellness
Anxiety Treatment Services What We Provide

From generalized anxiety disorder to panic attacks and social anxiety, Dr. Akers provides comprehensive evaluation and physician-led treatment for anxiety conditions at Superior Health. Explore the services below.

Dr. Akers conducts a thorough clinical evaluation to assess the type, severity, and impact of anxiety on your daily life. She uses validated screening tools alongside a detailed clinical history to distinguish generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and situational anxiety, and to rule out physical conditions like thyroid dysfunction, arrhythmia, and stimulant effects that can mimic or worsen anxiety.
Generalized anxiety disorder involves persistent, excessive worry about multiple areas of life that is difficult to control and accompanied by physical symptoms. Dr. Akers treats GAD with a combination of medication management, lifestyle counseling, and referral to behavioral therapy. First-line medications including SSRIs and SNRIs are highly effective for GAD and are managed carefully with monitoring and dose optimization.
Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of future attacks. The physical symptoms of panic attacks, including racing heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and dizziness, frequently lead patients to the emergency room before a correct diagnosis is made. Dr. Akers diagnoses panic disorder, initiates appropriate medication treatment, and coordinates cognitive behavioral therapy referral for comprehensive management.
Social anxiety disorder involves significant fear of social situations and scrutiny by others that leads to avoidance and functional impairment. Dr. Akers evaluates social anxiety and develops a treatment plan that may include SSRI medication, which has strong evidence for social anxiety, alongside referral to a therapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy.
Not all anxiety requires long-term medication. Situational anxiety related to specific life events, medical procedures, or acute stressors can often be managed with short-term interventions, non-habit-forming medications for acute use, and targeted behavioral strategies. Dr. Akers tailors the approach to the nature and timeline of your anxiety.
Anxiety symptoms can be caused or significantly worsened by thyroid disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, adrenal conditions, hormonal fluctuations, nutritional deficiencies, and certain medications. Dr. Akers evaluates for physical contributors to anxiety symptoms and addresses any identified medical factors as part of your comprehensive treatment plan.
Why It Matters Anxiety Is a Medical
Condition, Not a Weakness
Anxiety care and physician evaluation at Superior Health Medical
01 Untreated Anxiety Has Real Physical Consequences

Chronic anxiety activates the stress response system continuously, leading to elevated cortisol, disrupted sleep, immune suppression, elevated blood pressure, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease over time. Treating anxiety is not just about feeling better mentally. It protects your physical health in ways that matter long-term.

02 Anxiety Responds Well to the Right Treatment

With accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the majority of people with anxiety disorders experience significant improvement. The most effective approach combines medication management when indicated with behavioral therapy. Dr. Akers coordinates both sides of this equation and monitors your response so the plan is adjusted based on how you are actually doing.

03 Avoidance Makes Anxiety Worse Over Time

The natural response to anxiety is avoidance of whatever triggers it. Avoidance provides short-term relief but makes the anxiety progressively worse by reinforcing the fear response. Early treatment that addresses the anxiety directly prevents the disorder from expanding and taking over more of your life.

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Anxiety disorder evaluation at Superior Health Medical and Wellness
Understanding Your Anxiety Types of Anxiety
Dr. Akers Treats

Anxiety disorders are the most common class of mental health conditions, affecting more than 40 million adults in the United States. Despite how common they are, most people with anxiety disorders go undiagnosed or undertreated for years. The experience of anxiety varies widely from person to person, which is one reason it is often missed or attributed to stress, personality, or physical symptoms without a clear cause.

Generalized anxiety disorder involves pervasive, difficult-to-control worry that spans multiple life domains. Panic disorder is characterized by sudden, intense episodes of fear with prominent physical symptoms. Social anxiety disorder centers on fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations. Many patients experience elements of more than one type simultaneously.

Dr. Akers takes the time to understand what anxiety looks and feels like for you specifically. She asks detailed questions about the nature of your symptoms, their triggers, their physical manifestations, and how they affect your daily functioning. This thoroughness ensures that the treatment plan is matched to your actual diagnosis rather than a generic anxiety protocol.

Anxiety medication management at Superior Health Medical
Anxiety and Medication Medication That
Works With You

Medications for anxiety are often misunderstood. Many patients worry about becoming dependent on anxiety medication or changing their personality. Dr. Akers addresses these concerns directly and explains exactly what each medication does, how long it takes to work, what side effects to watch for, and how the medication fits into your overall treatment plan.

First-line medications for most anxiety disorders are SSRIs and SNRIs, which are non-habit-forming and require several weeks to reach full effect. Buspirone is another non-habit-forming option for GAD. Short-acting medications may be used for specific acute situations. Dr. Akers starts at appropriate doses, monitors your response, and adjusts over time to find the most effective and well-tolerated regimen for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions Your Questions,
Answered
Normal stress is typically tied to a specific stressor and resolves when the stressor does. Anxiety disorders involve worry or fear that is disproportionate to the situation, difficult to control, and persistent over weeks or months. Anxiety disorders also typically come with physical symptoms and cause meaningful interference with daily functioning. If you find that worry or fear is affecting your sleep, relationships, work, or ability to enjoy life, it is worth getting evaluated.
Not necessarily. Mild anxiety often responds well to lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, and therapy alone. Moderate to severe anxiety typically benefits from a combination of therapy and medication. Dr. Akers evaluates your anxiety severity and discusses all available options so you can make an informed decision about your treatment.
The first-line medications for most anxiety disorders, including SSRIs and SNRIs, are not habit-forming or addictive. Benzodiazepines, which are a different class of medication, do carry a risk of dependence and tolerance and are used more selectively and for shorter periods. Dr. Akers will explain clearly what she is prescribing, why, and what to expect.
Many people begin to notice improvement from medication within 4 to 6 weeks, with continued improvement over 2 to 3 months. Cognitive behavioral therapy typically involves 12 to 20 sessions for most anxiety disorders. Some people require longer-term treatment to maintain gains, while others are able to taper off medication after a sustained period of stability.
Yes. Anxiety commonly causes a wide range of physical symptoms including rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal distress, sweating, and fatigue. These symptoms are real, not imaginary, and they result from activation of the nervous system stress response. Dr. Akers evaluates physical symptoms in the context of your full clinical picture.