Anxiety treatment in Miami Florida
Santana Mental Health Services provides comprehensive anxiety evaluations and individualized treatment plans for adolescents and adults. Our providers use evidence-based psychotherapy and medication management, the two approaches with the strongest clinical support, to help patients reduce symptoms, regain functioning, and improve quality of life. Care is available both in-office and through secure telehealth services.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders often begin in childhood or adolescence (median age of onset is 11 years) and tend to follow a chronic course if left untreated. They frequently co-occur with depression, substance use disorders, and medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Chronic, hard-to-control worry about everyday matters such as health, finances, or family, often accompanied by muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. GAD affects roughly 6% of adults over a lifetime.
Social anxiety disorder
Intense fear of social or performance situations driven by worry about being judged or embarrassed. This is the most common anxiety disorder, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 13%.
Panic disorder
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks — sudden surges of intense fear with physical symptoms like a racing heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Lifetime prevalence is approximately 5%.
Specific phobias and agoraphobia
Marked fear of specific objects, situations, or open/crowded spaces that leads to avoidance behavior.
When to Seek an Evaluation
Consider scheduling an evaluation if anxiety symptoms are persistent and interfere with your ability to function at work, in relationships, or in daily activities. Common signs include:
Persistent, hard-to-control worry or racing thoughts
Avoidance of situations, places, or social interactions due to fear
Irritability, restlessness, or difficulty concentrating
Sleep disturbance, trouble falling or staying asleep
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or excessive sweating
Sudden episodes of intense fear (panic attacks)
How Anxiety Is Treated
Effective anxiety treatment is built on two pillars: psychotherapy and medication management. Treatment is personalized based on symptom severity, patient preferences, co-occurring conditions, and prior treatment history.
Therapy for Anxiety
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CBT is usually structured and skills-based. A typical course may last about 10 to 16 sessions, though shorter formats can also be effective.
CBT can help you:
Identify anxious thought patterns
Challenge fears and worries more effectively
Gradually face situations you have been avoiding
Build coping skills for worry, panic, and physical anxiety symptoms
CBT often includes exposure therapy, which helps patients safely and gradually confront feared situations instead of avoiding them.
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Acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT, helps patients make room for difficult emotions while continuing to move toward meaningful life goals. Research shows ACT can reduce anxiety symptoms and may be comparable to CBT for some patients.
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Mindfulness-based approaches teach skills for noticing thoughts, emotions, and body sensations without becoming overwhelmed by them. These techniques may help reduce anxiety and improve stress management.
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Psychodynamic therapy may be helpful for some patients, especially when anxiety is connected to recurring emotional patterns, relationships, or past experiences. The evidence base is more limited than CBT, but it may be appropriate in selected cases.
Medication for Anxiety
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The most commonly recommended first-line medications for anxiety include:
SSRIs, such as sertraline or escitalopram
SNRIs, such as venlafaxine or duloxetine
These medications are widely studied and commonly used to treat anxiety disorders.
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Anxiety medications do not usually work immediately.
Many patients begin noticing improvement within 2 to 4 weeks, with fuller benefits developing over several months.
Some people experience early side effects, such as:
Mild nausea
Jitteriness
Headache
Sleep changes
These side effects often improve within the first few weeks. Providers typically start with a lower dose and increase gradually when needed.
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For patients who respond well, continuing medication for at least one year may reduce the risk of relapse.
Stopping medication too early can increase the chance that symptoms return. Your provider can help you decide when and how to taper medication safely.
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Benzodiazepines are generally not recommended as a first-line treatment for anxiety because of risks such as tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal.
In some cases, they may be used short-term or in specific clinical situations with close supervision.
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For many patients, the best results come from combining therapy and medication.
Therapy helps build long-term coping skills, while medication can reduce symptom intensity and make it easier to participate in treatment.
Your provider will work with you to choose a treatment plan that fits your symptoms, goals, and preferences.
Telehealth for Anxiety Treatment
Anxiety evaluations and follow-up appointments are available through secure telehealth. Research shows video-based therapy can be as effective as in-person care for anxiety, with similar symptom improvement, patient satisfaction, and therapeutic connection.
Take the next step toward feeling better. Book a secure telehealth appointment today and get support from the comfort of home, on a schedule that works for you.
Frequently asked questions
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
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Yes. Anxiety disorders are well-established medical conditions recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They involve dysregulation of the brain's fear and stress-response systems and are among the most treatable mental health conditions.
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Yes. Many patients achieve significant improvement with psychotherapy alone, particularly CBT. Medication is recommended when symptoms are moderate to severe, when therapy alone has not been sufficient, or based on patient preference. Treatment decisions are always individualized.
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Without treatment, anxiety disorders tend to follow a chronic, recurring course. Research indicates that untreated anxiety is unlikely to remit on its own and is associated with worsening functional impairment, higher rates of depression, increased cardiovascular risk, and greater healthcare utilization over time.
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This varies by individual. CBT typically involves 10 to 16 sessions, with many patients noticing improvement within the first several weeks. Medication, if prescribed, generally takes two to four weeks to begin working, with full effects developing over two to three months. Some patients benefit from longer-term treatment to maintain gains and prevent relapse.
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Yes. Both initial evaluations and ongoing follow-up appointments are available through secure video telehealth. Clinical research supports that telehealth-delivered therapy is as effective as in-person care for anxiety disorders.