Nearly 20% of American adults struggle with anxiety, and it’s especially common among adults in fast-paced urban areas. In his private psychiatric practice, Jacob Leivent, MD, provides comprehensive telehealth care to patients in busy areas including Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York, and the Westwood, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills areas of Los Angeles, California. Anxiety can quickly spin out of control if you try to ignore it, but personalized psychiatric care can help you overcome obstacles and achieve the mental well-being you deserve. Call the office or book an appointment online now.
request an appointmentIs my anxiety normal or an anxiety disorder?
Some anxiety is normal. It can even be good, because it can serve as an early warning system that helps you react to danger better.
Everybody feels nervous, restless, and worried when they’re facing a big event, like starting a new job. Once you’re over that hurdle, however, the anxiety should go away.
Anxiety disorders don’t work that way. They cause ongoing and recurrent anxiety that can quickly grow out of control.
In general, your anxiety might be an anxiety disorder if it causes problems with work, sleep, relationships, or social life, or keeps you from functioning day to day.
How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?
There are several types of anxiety disorders, and anxiety often shares symptoms with conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). So the best way to narrow down the cause of your symptoms is a psychiatric evaluation.
Dr. Leivent discusses your symptoms with you in detail to diagnose your disorder and personalize your psychiatric care.
What can I expect from anxiety disorder treatment?
Dr. Leivent often recommends a combination approach with medication and psychotherapy. He creates a personalized treatment plan for every patient.
Medication management
Antidepressants, the most common drug used in anxiety medication management, increase the amount of positive chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
Because they can lift your mood, antidepressants are often used as a depression treatment. The drugs can also reduce anxiety and even improve sleep and general well-being, so they’re a good option for anxiety treatment, too.
Other drugs may also be used, such as benzodiazepines (short term) for an immediate feeling of calm and beta blockers to help manage physical anxiety symptoms.
Dr. Leivent targets your specific symptoms with the medication that is most likely to relieve them. He discusses your medication regularly with you and can adjust your drug or its dosage as needed to give you the best effects.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is talk therapy with Dr. Leivent. It can help you change your thought patterns and reactions. This can lead to a big drop in anxiety and an improved feeling of control over your life, especially when it’s combined with medication.
Dr. Leivent makes it an easy process by providing all of his care through telehealth. You have direct access to the doctor, with no middleman between you and the care you need.
Book an appointment online or call Jacob Leivent, MD, for anxiety help now.