Adult Anxiety Disorders Clinic

The Adult Anxiety Disorders clinic provides initial evaluations and short-term, evidence-based therapy for anxiety disorders in adults. Our providers collaborate to provide integrated care for anxiety disorders. Program patients have access to psychiatry services and medication management options through the Baylor Medicine Psychiatry. We provide in person and telehealth appointments for therapy, subject to changes in COVID-19 recommendations.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It is an uncomfortable feeling of fear, uneasiness, or concern that something bad is about to happen. Difficult situations can cause you to have symptoms such as sweaty palms and a nervous feeling, which can often pass on its own with some time.
In an anxiety disorder, though, symptoms are severe and distressing to the point of interfering with your life. Overwhelming worry, muscle tension, trouble sleeping, nausea, diarrhea, and other symptoms can make normal daily activities difficult or impossible. These symptoms may occur for no reason, and they can affect your work, school, social life, or other requirements of a healthy and fulfilling life.

Anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder. You feel worried and stressed about many everyday events and activities. You have a hard time stopping your worrying. This goes on for several months and disrupts your life, relationships and work on most days.
• Panic disorder. You experience a pattern of repeated, unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden, strong feelings of fear or anxiety along with symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, or a pounding heart.
• Social anxiety disorder. You feel very anxious about what you will say or do in front of people. For example, you may be scared to talk or eat in public. This problem affects important areas of your daily life.
• Phobias. You are very scared of a specific object, situation, or activity. For example, you may fear spiders, high places, small spaces, or situations where you might not be able to escape. This makes you avoid some situations in a way that interferes with your life.

Treatment for anxiety disorders consists of psychotherapy and medication options. Depending on your circumstances, it is possible to treat anxiety with one (medication or therapy) or both treatment options.  

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the form of psychotherapy for anxiety that is most supported by research and is considered the most effective. CBT focuses on understanding the thoughts and behaviors that keep anxiety going, and teaches skills to stop the cycle of anxiety. It sometimes includes exposure therapy, which is a treatment designed to increase confidence and the ability to tolerate anxiety-provoking situations. In all cases, CBT is designed to be a relatively short-term treatment to give you the skills and confidence to manage anxiety in the long-term. 
• Medication options for anxiety may include antidepressant medications or medications that were developed to target anxiety. If you choose to pursue medication options for treatment, your psychiatrist will make a recommendation that is specific for you based on their evaluation and discussion with you. 
   

Please contact us at (713) 798-4857 to request an initial evaluation appointment with the Baylor Medicine Anxiety Disorders clinic. If you are primarily interested in medication, please request a psychiatry appointment in your initial call.

We are in-network for many insurance plans. To confirm coverage and copays with your insurance company, please call them directly and request coverage information for the following CPT codes:

Initial evaluation: 90791
Therapy: 90834, 90837
 

The Adult Anxiety Clinic at Baylor Medicine embraces diversity and inclusion, and recognizes our responsibility to foster an open, welcoming environment where patients, trainees, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and identities can be their authentic selves. We value the benefits that arise from diverse experiences and are committed to providing programs that expose some to new knowledge while supporting others as they connect to their identities. We also strive to acknowledge the complexity of intersecting identities by respecting the uniqueness of each individual.