Anxiety Disorders Treatment in Hayward, CA | Exxceed Wellness

Anxiety Disorders

Nefretiri Abat, J.D., PMHNP-BC · Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Anxiety Disorders: Evidence-Based Psychiatric Care in Hayward, California

Most people experience anxiety from time to time. Anxiety becomes a disorder when it is persistent, disproportionate to the situation, and starts shaping how you live — what you avoid, how you sleep, how clearly you can think. The good news: anxiety disorders are among the most treatable conditions in psychiatry. The right plan, delivered by a clinician who actually listens, often produces meaningful relief within weeks.

Anxiety disorders we evaluate and treat

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) — persistent, free-floating worry about everyday concerns lasting six months or more.
• Panic disorder — recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with physical symptoms (racing heart, shortness of breath, dread) and anticipatory fear of further attacks.
• Social anxiety disorder — intense, persistent fear of judgment or scrutiny in social or performance situations.
• Health anxiety — preoccupation with serious illness despite reassurance and unremarkable medical evaluations.
• Anxiety co-occurring with depression, ADHD, or trauma — the most common pattern in adult psychiatry, and one that benefits from an integrated treatment plan rather than treating each diagnosis in isolation.

When to seek psychiatric evaluation

Consider scheduling a consult if any of the following has been true for three months or more:

• Worry, dread, or “edge” you can’t talk yourself out of
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind won’t quiet
• Avoiding meetings, calls, social settings, or driving because of anxiety
• Physical symptoms — chest tightness, GI distress, jaw tension — with no clear medical cause
• Substances (alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines) creeping up in role or frequency to manage symptoms
• Therapy alone has not produced enough relief and you want to know whether medication, or a different medication, would help

How anxiety is treated at Exxceed Wellness

1. A real psychiatric evaluation, not a 15-minute med visit

Your first appointment is a careful clinical interview. We look at history, sleep, substances, thyroid and other medical contributors, family history, prior medication trials, current stressors, and what specifically you want to feel different. Diagnosis matters — “anxiety” can present similarly across very different underlying conditions, and the treatment changes accordingly.

2. Expert medication management

For most anxiety disorders, evidence-based first-line care includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), thoughtful adjuncts when needed, and targeted, time-limited use of as-needed medication when clinically appropriate. We avoid long-term benzodiazepine reliance and we explain — out loud — why we’re choosing what we’re choosing.

3. Coordination with therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure-based therapies have strong evidence in anxiety disorders. We don’t provide therapy in-house, but we coordinate closely with vetted therapists in the Bay Area and via California-statewide telehealth, and we’ll help you find one if you don’t have one.

4. TMS therapy for treatment-resistant cases

When two or more medication trials at adequate dose and duration haven’t produced enough relief — especially in anxious depression — Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-cleared option we deliver in-office in Hayward. TMS is non-invasive, drug-free, and well-tolerated, with no systemic side effects.

What to expect at your first visit

The initial psychiatric evaluation is 60–90 minutes. By the end of that visit you’ll have a working diagnostic impression, a recommended treatment plan, an honest discussion of risks and alternatives, and a clear next step. Follow-up visits are typically every 2–4 weeks early on, then spaced as you stabilize.

Frequently asked questions