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.
A thorough review of your symptoms, history, triggers, sleep, physical health, and any prior treatment. We also look for conditions that sometimes run alongside anxiety, like depression or ADHD.
Using standard diagnostic criteria, we identify the specific anxiety disorder. We explain what that means and what we think the most effective treatment looks like for you.
Not everyone needs medication. When it makes sense, we start with the most evidence-backed options, at a low dose, and monitor your response closely over the following weeks.
Follow-up appointments let us track how treatment is working and adjust as needed. We also refer to therapists in the Portland and Multnomah area when talk therapy is part of the plan.
Sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine. First choice for most anxiety disorders. Taken once daily and generally well tolerated.
Venlafaxine and duloxetine. Effective for GAD and social anxiety, especially when depression is also present.
Non-habit-forming medication approved for GAD. Takes a few weeks to work but carries no risk of dependence, making it a good fit for long-term use.
Propranolol is sometimes used for situational anxiety, like fear of public speaking. It targets physical symptoms without affecting alertness.
Occasionally used short-term during acute anxiety or while waiting for other medications to take effect. Not recommended as a primary long-term treatment.
* Antidepressants are not prescribed on the first visit without a full evaluation. Bipolar disorder is screened for before any antidepressant is considered.
Here is what the process looks like from start to finish.
Call us or use the online form. We check your insurance before your appointment so you know what to expect cost-wise. No referral needed.
Before you come in, we send intake paperwork covering your history, current symptoms, sleep, medications, and anything else relevant to your care.
First appointments are 60 minutes. Your PMHNP goes through your history and current situation carefully. There is no rush.
By the end of the appointment you will have a diagnosis, a treatment plan, and if a prescription is appropriate, it will be 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.
Not necessarily. After your evaluation we discuss all the options. Some people do best with medication, some with therapy, and many with a combination. The evaluation tells us which direction makes the most sense for you.
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.
