Anxiety does not just feel like worry. For a lot of people it shows up as physical symptoms, avoidance, interrupted sleep, or a constant sense of dread that is hard to explain. If that sounds familiar, a proper psychiatric evaluation can give you answers and a clear path forward. Aspirant Wellness Solution sees patients for anxiety at our Multnomah and Portland offices and through telehealth across Oregon.
Not sure which type fits your situation? That is what the evaluation is for. Our PMHNP will work through it with you.
Feeling nervous before something stressful is normal. But when worry starts taking over, when it is hard to concentrate, when your body feels tense most of the time, or when you start avoiding things to manage the fear, that is worth taking seriously.
A PMHNP can do things a therapist or GP cannot. They can identify the specific type of anxiety you have, prescribe medication if it makes sense, and connect you with a therapist for talk therapy if that is part of your plan. You do not have to choose one or the other.
We see patients at our offices in Multnomah and Portland, and through telehealth for anyone in Oregon. No referral is needed to book.
There are several distinct anxiety disorders and they do not all look the same. Getting the right diagnosis matters because it shapes the treatment. Here is what we commonly see and treat.
GAD involves chronic, wide-ranging worry that is hard to control. It often comes with physical symptoms like fatigue, muscle tension, and disrupted sleep. Many people with GAD have been anxious for so long they assume it is just their personality. It is not. It is treatable.
People with panic disorder have recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent worry about having another one. The attacks themselves can feel like a medical emergency. They are not, but they are distressing and they respond well to treatment.
This goes beyond shyness. Social anxiety disorder causes intense fear in social situations, often centred on the worry of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated. It can limit careers, friendships, and daily activities in ways that are hard to explain to people who do not experience it.
A specific phobia is a marked, ongoing fear of a particular thing or situation, out of proportion to any real danger. Heights, needles, flying, certain animals. Phobias lead to avoidance that can narrow someone's life significantly over time.
More common in children but also present in adults. Separation anxiety disorder involves excessive fear or distress when separated from key attachment figures. It can interfere with work, relationships, and independence.
Anxiety often does not travel alone. Depression, ADHD, insomnia, and substance use frequently co-occur with anxiety. A PMHNP can assess everything at once and build a plan that addresses the full picture rather than just the loudest symptom.
We do not prescribe and send people on their way. Treatment starts with a proper evaluation, and everything that follows is built around what that evaluation shows.
We take time to understand your symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, sleep, stressors, physical health, current medications, and any previous treatments. We also assess for conditions that commonly occur alongside anxiety, such as depression, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, and substance use disorders.
Using established diagnostic criteria and clinical judgement, we identify the conditions contributing to your symptoms. We explain your diagnosis, answer your questions, and work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your goals and the best available evidence.
Medication is not the right choice for everyone. When it is appropriate, we discuss the benefits, risks, and alternatives, then choose an evidence-based option that fits your needs. Treatment typically begins with a conservative dose and is adjusted over time based on your response and any side effects.
Treatment is an ongoing process. Follow-up appointments allow us to monitor your progress, make medication adjustments when needed, and address new concerns as they arise. When psychotherapy would be beneficial, we coordinate care or provide referrals to qualified therapists.
Sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and fluvoxamine (Luvox). First-line for most anxiety disorders. Strong evidence. Taken once daily and may take several weeks to reach full effect.
Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). Effective for generalized anxiety disorder and when anxiety occurs alongside depression or chronic pain.
Non-habit-forming and approved for generalized anxiety disorder. Does not provide immediate relief but reduces anxiety over several weeks without dependence risk.
Propranolol for performance or situational anxiety. Reduces physical symptoms such as a racing heart and shaking without intoxication or dependence.
Lorazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam may be appropriate for short-term use in carefully selected patients. They are not recommended as primary long-term treatment due to the risks of tolerance, dependence, and sedation.
Here is what the process looks like from start to finish.
Call or request an appointment online. We verify your insurance benefits before your visit whenever possible. Most patients do not need a referral.
Before your appointment, you will receive secure online forms asking about your medical and mental health history, current symptoms, medications, sleep, and other relevant information.
Initial appointments are typically 60 minutes. Your PMHNP will take time to understand your concerns, review your history, discuss your goals, and perform a comprehensive psychiatric assessment.
By the end of your appointment, you will have a clear understanding of our clinical impressions and recommended next steps. Prescriptions, when indicated, are sent to your pharmacy the same day.
Most people who come in for anxiety are also dealing with something else. Depression is the most common pairing, but ADHD, insomnia, and substance use are also frequent. When these things overlap, treating just one of them usually does not get very far.
Our PMHNP is trained to look at the full picture. If your anxiety is partly driven by untreated ADHD, for example, then starting an anxiety medication without addressing that first may not do much. Getting the evaluation right at the start saves a lot of time and unnecessary medication changes later.
You do not need to be in Multnomah or Portland to get care here. We offer telehealth appointments for anxiety to patients anywhere in Oregon. The evaluation, medication management, and follow-up visits all work the same way. You just need a phone or computer with a camera. Prescriptions go directly to your pharmacy.
In-Person Offices
Multnomah Village, OR (Primary)
Portland, OR (Secondary)
Regional Areas
SW Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton
Gresham, Milwaukie, Clackamas
Anxiety rarely shows up on its own. If any of these sound familiar alongside your anxiety, we treat those too.
I had been dealing with panic attacks for two years before I found this practice. Within six weeks of starting the right medication I had not had a single one. I wish I had come in sooner.
As a rural Oregon patient, telehealth was the only realistic option for me. The PMHNP went through my history more thoroughly than anyone I had seen in person. That meant a lot.
I had been told for years it was just stress. The evaluation here found that I had both social anxiety and ADHD. Treating both at once made more difference than anything else I had tried.
Yes. Our board-certified PMHNP evaluates and diagnoses anxiety disorders and manages medications including SSRIs, SNRIs, and buspirone. We see patients in Multnomah, Portland, and across Oregon through telehealth.
No. Medication is not the right choice for everyone. For many anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioural therapy and other evidence-based psychotherapies are equally important and may be recommended alone or alongside medication.
Most medications for anxiety start showing an effect within two to four weeks. Full benefit usually takes six to eight weeks. We check in regularly during that period to see how things are going and adjust if needed.
Yes. We offer telehealth appointments for anxiety to patients anywhere in Oregon. The evaluation works the same way as an in-person visit, and prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy electronically.
We treat generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, separation anxiety, and anxiety that occurs alongside depression, ADHD, or other conditions.
Most major Oregon insurance plans cover psychiatric care for anxiety, including Oregon Health Plan. We verify your coverage before your first appointment so you are not guessing at the cost.
If anxiety has been getting in the way of your work, your sleep, or your relationships, it is worth getting a proper evaluation. We keep things straightforward. Book a time that works for you and we will take it from there.
Crisis line note below buttons: If you are in crisis, call or text 988. Cascadia Crisis Line: (503) 988-4888.
