What Anxiety Actually Is
Anxiety is not just worrying. It is your brain stuck in alarm mode when there is no real danger. Your heart races before a meeting. Your stomach drops when the phone rings. You lie awake at 2 AM thinking about something you said three years ago. About 40 million adults in the US deal with an anxiety disorder. It is the most common mental health condition in the country -- and one of the most treatable.
There are several types. Generalized anxiety disorder is constant, low-grade dread about everything. Social anxiety makes normal conversations feel like a performance. Panic disorder hits you with sudden waves of terror, chest pain, and the feeling that something is seriously wrong. Some people have a mix of all three.
The important thing: anxiety is not a personality flaw. It is a brain pattern, and it responds to treatment.
How We Treat Anxiety across Nevada
We start with an evaluation. Not a clipboard and a checklist -- a real conversation. We ask what your anxiety looks like day to day, when it started, what makes it worse, and what you have tried before. Some patients come in already knowing they have anxiety. Others just know something feels off. Either way, we figure it out together.
Medication is often the fastest path to relief. SSRIs like Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac are the front-line treatments. They take 2-4 weeks to reach full effect, but many patients feel a difference within the first week. For patients who need faster relief, we may prescribe short-term options while the SSRI builds up.
SNRIs like Effexor and Cymbalta work well for patients who also have physical symptoms -- muscle tension, headaches, fatigue. Buspirone is another option that works specifically for anxiety without the side effects of some other medications.
If you have tried multiple medications without success, we offer GeneSight testing. A simple cheek swab tells us how your body processes different psychiatric medications. No more trial and error.
What Happens at Your First Visit
Your first appointment is about 45 minutes. We review your symptoms, medical history, and any previous treatments. No judgment. No rushed 10-minute appointment where you barely finish a sentence.
If medication is right for you, we can prescribe it that same day. Follow-up visits are shorter and focused on how you are feeling, any side effects, and whether the dosage needs adjusting. Most patients start feeling noticeably better within 4-6 weeks.
Signs You Should Get Evaluated
If you avoid situations because of how they make you feel -- that is a sign. If you cancel plans because the thought of going makes your chest tight -- that is a sign. If you spend more time worrying about problems than solving them -- that is a sign. If you have physical symptoms your doctor cannot explain -- stomach issues, headaches, jaw clenching, trouble sleeping -- anxiety could be the cause.
You do not need to hit rock bottom to get help. Most of our patients are functioning fine on the outside. They go to work, take care of their families, and keep it together. But inside, the worry never stops. That is exactly who we help.
Insurance and Cost
We accept most major insurance plans in Nevada, including Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Nevada Medicaid. Cash-pay rates are available for patients without insurance or who prefer not to use it. We keep pricing transparent -- no surprise bills.
Why Silver State Mental Health
We are a Nevada-based psychiatric practice with offices across Las Vegas, Reno, and all of Nevada. Our providers are board-certified and specialize in anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other psychiatric conditions. We offer same-week appointments because anxiety does not wait, and neither should you. All visits are private and by appointment only.