Anxiety Treatment in Red Bank & Monmouth County, NJ
Anxiety Diagnosis and Treatment
Your heart races for no reason. Your mind spirals with “what if” thoughts you can’t shut off. You’re exhausted from constantly being on edge.
Everyone tells you to “just relax” or “stop worrying so much.” If only it were that simple. This isn’t weakness. This is anxiety—a real medical condition affecting 40 million American adults.
At Kolli Psychiatry in Red Bank, New Jersey, we understand that anxiety isn’t something you can just “think away.” It’s a treatable condition involving real changes in brain chemistry and nervous system function.
We serve patients throughout Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore, including Red Bank, Middletown, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Holmdel, Long Branch, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Marlboro, and surrounding communities.
Our top-rated psychiatrists offer comprehensive anxiety evaluations, medication management (SSRIs, SNRIs, anti-anxiety medications), and therapy coordination throughout Monmouth County. In this guide, you’ll learn about different anxiety types (panic disorder, social anxiety, GAD), recognize warning signs, understand treatment options, and get answers to your questions.
The good news: 70-90% of patients improve with treatment, often within 2-4 weeks.If anxiety is controlling your life, effective treatment is available.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is your body’s natural alarm system—designed to protect you from danger by triggering the “fight or flight” response. When working properly, this system helps you stay alert during important moments or avoid genuine threats.
But in anxiety disorders, this alarm system gets stuck in overdrive.
Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes—before a job interview, during public speaking, or facing major life changes. That’s completely normal and even helpful. A little anxiety can improve performance and keep you prepared.
Anxiety disorders are different. They involve persistent, excessive worry that’s out of proportion to the situation. The anxiety doesn’t go away when the stressful event ends. It interferes with work, relationships, and daily activities. You know the worry is excessive, but you can’t control it.
Here’s what matters: Anxiety isn’t “all in your head” or something you can simply think away. It involves real, measurable changes in brain chemistry and nervous system function.
Research shows that anxiety disorders involve imbalances in neurotransmitters—the chemical messengers in your brain. Key neurotransmitters include serotonin (which regulates mood and worry), GABA (which calms the nervous system), and norepinephrine (which controls the stress response). When these chemicals are out of balance, your brain perceives danger even when you’re safe.
Think of it like a smoke alarm that won’t stop going off even when there’s no fire. Your brain’s threat-detection system is hypersensitive, triggering anxiety responses to situations that don’t warrant them. The physical symptoms—racing heart, sweating, muscle tension—are real because your body is genuinely responding to perceived danger.
Anxiety is not a character flaw, personal weakness, or sign of being “broken.” It’s a legitimate medical condition with biological underpinnings—and it’s highly treatable. Just as you wouldn’t blame someone for having diabetes or asthma, anxiety disorders result from factors largely beyond your control.
Physical Impact of Anxiety
Not only does anxiety affect your mental well-being, but it also takes a toll on your physical health. The constant state of tension can lead to headaches, muscle aches, and even digestive issues. It’s as if your body is in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode, ready to react to any perceived threat.
Furthermore, this heightened state of alertness can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Some individuals might experience rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or excessive sweating, even when there’s no obvious reason for it.
Different Types of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Chronic, excessive worry about everyday things—work, health, family, finances—even when there’s little reason for concern. The worry feels uncontrollable and interferes with daily life. You might worry about being late, making mistakes, or things going wrong, even on good days.
Physical symptoms include muscle tension, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems. GAD is the most common anxiety disorder, affecting about 6.8 million American adults.
Panic Disorder
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden surges of intense fear that peak within minutes. Symptoms include racing heart, chest pain, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, and feeling like you’re dying or losing control.
What makes panic disorder particularly difficult is the fear of having another attack, which leads to avoiding places or situations where attacks have occurred. Many people with panic disorder end up in the emergency room convinced they’re having a heart attack.
Social Anxiety Disorder (social phobia)
Intense, persistent fear of being watched, judged, or embarrassed in social situations. This goes far beyond normal shyness. You might fear speaking in public, eating in front of others, meeting new people, or any situation where you might be scrutinized.
The anxiety is so severe that it causes significant avoidance—turning down job opportunities, skipping important events, or having difficulty forming relationships. Social anxiety can be limited to performance situations (like public speaking) or generalized to most social interactions.
Specific Phobias
Extreme, irrational fear of specific objects or situations—flying, heights, needles, blood, spiders, enclosed spaces, dogs. The fear is out of proportion to actual danger and causes significant distress or avoidance.
You might drive 8 hours rather than fly, avoid medical care because of needle phobia, or miss opportunities because of height-related fears. Specific phobias are very common and highly treatable with exposure therapy.
Agoraphobia
Fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic symptoms occur. This often includes crowds, public transportation, open spaces (parking lots, bridges), enclosed spaces (stores, theaters), or being outside the home alone.
Many people with agoraphobia have panic disorder, but not everyone. In severe cases, people become housebound. Agoraphobia affects about 1-2% of adults and typically develops after experiencing panic attacks in these situations.
Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder)
Excessive preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness, despite medical reassurance and normal test results. You might constantly check your body for signs of disease, research symptoms online excessively, or seek repeated medical consultations. \
A normal headache becomes a brain tumor; indigestion becomes a heart attack. The anxiety about illness becomes more impairing than any actual medical condition.
Many patients at our Red Bank and Monmouth County offices have more than one type of anxiety disorder. In fact, about 60% of people with one anxiety disorder also have another. This is completely normal—and all types respond well to treatment.
Whether you have one anxiety disorder or several, our psychiatric providers create personalized treatment plans that address your specific combination of symptoms.
Normal Stress Vs Anxiety: What’s the Difference?
|
Normal Worry |
Anxiety |
| Temporary, related to specific stressor | Persistent, often without clear cause |
| Doesn’t interfere with daily life | Significantly impairs work, relationships, activities |
| You can usually manage it | Feels overwhelming and uncontrollable |
| Goes away when situation resolves | Continues even when nothing is wrong |
| Occasional physical symptoms | Frequent physical symptoms (racing heart, trouble breathing) |
| You can ‘talk yourself down’ | Reassurance doesn’t help for long |
How do I know if I have Anxiety?
If these symptoms feel familiar for most days over the past 6 months, consider professional evaluation:
Mental/Emotional Symptoms:
☐ Excessive worry about multiple things
☐ Can’t control or stop the worry
☐ Feeling constantly on edge or keyed up
☐ Difficulty concentrating (mind goes blank)
☐ Irritability or feeling easily frustrated
☐ Sense of impending danger or doom
☐ Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety
☐ Reassurance-seeking behavior
Physical Symptoms:
☐ Racing or pounding heart
☐ Shortness of breath or feeling smothered
☐ Chest tightness or pain
☐ Muscle tension, especially neck/shoulders
☐ Restlessness, can’t sit still
☐ Feeling tired despite sleeping
☐ Trouble falling or staying asleep
☐ Digestive problems, nausea
☐ Sweating, trembling, or feeling shaky
☐ Dizziness or lightheadedness
If you’re having a panic attack or can’t breathe:
Crisis: Call 911 or go to nearest emergency room
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (call or text)
Many patients throughout Monmouth County describe anxiety as “living with a constant knot in my stomach” or “feeling like something bad is always about to happen.”
At Kolli Psychiatry in Red Bank, we help patients throughout Monmouth County, Ocean County, and the Jersey Shore find relief from anxiety. Most people start feeling better within 2-4 weeks of beginning treatment.
Taking the first step is often the hardest—but it’s also the most important.
Book an appointment with our Best Psychiatrists in NJ for Anxiety
Other Conditions We Treat
What Causes Anxiety?
Anxiety develops from biological vulnerability, brain chemistry, life experiences, and environmental stressors.
Brain Chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin (regulates mood), GABA (calms the nervous system), and norepinephrine (controls stress response) play a central role.
Genetics & Life Experiences: Anxiety runs in families—having a parent or sibling with anxiety increases your risk 2-4 times. Childhood adversity, trauma, major losses, and chronic stress can trigger anxiety, especially in those with genetic vulnerability.
Medical Factors: Thyroid disorders, heart arrhythmias, asthma, certain medications (stimulants, corticosteroids), caffeine, and alcohol can cause or worsen anxiety.
Personality Patterns: Perfectionism, need for control, catastrophizing (imagining worst-case scenarios), and difficulty with uncertainty maintain and worsen anxiety over time.
At our Red Bank practice, we see anxiety affecting college students, NYC commuters, parents, and retirees throughout Monmouth County. Understanding your combination of risk factors helps create an effective treatment plan.
The Impact of Untreated Anxiety
Physical Health
Chronic anxiety increases risk of cardiovascular problems (high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke), digestive issues, weakened immunity, chronic muscle tension (headaches, back pain, jaw pain), and sleep disruption that worsens anxiety further.
Mental Health
About 60% of people with anxiety develop depression. Risk of substance use disorders increases as people self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, complicating treatment.
Daily Life
Avoidance behaviors start small but expand over time. You stop going places you enjoyed, turn down work opportunities, withdraw from relationships.
Quality of Life
Living with constant tension means missing out on travel, career opportunities, and social events. Many describe “watching life from the sidelines.”
Here’s the good news: 70-90% of people experience significant improvement with treatment. Our Monmouth County patients report sleeping through the night, accepting job promotions they’d declined, repairing strained relationships, and rediscovering joy.
Anxiety Treatment in Red Bank, NJ & Throughout Monmouth County
At Kolli Psychiatry, we provide comprehensive, evidence-based anxiety treatment throughout Monmouth County, Ocean County, and the Jersey Shore.
Anxiety Evaluation & Treatment by our Expert Psychiatrists
Our Red Bank office and telehealth options provide thorough 60 minute evaluations. We assess when your anxiety started, what triggers it, how it affects your daily life, and screen for co-occurring conditions like depression (present in 60% of anxiety patients) or ADHD. \
We review your medical history, medications, caffeine intake, and previous treatments to understand what’s contributing to your anxiety. This collaborative evaluation helps us create a personalized treatment plan based on your specific goals—whether that’s flying to visit family, accepting a promotion, or simply feeling calm enough to enjoy life.
Medication for Anxiety in Red Bank
Anti-anxiety medications restore balance to brain chemistry. SSRIs like Zoloft, Lexapro, and Paxil are first-line treatments—they take 2-4 weeks to work, have mild side effects, and are non-addictive. SNRIs like Effexor work similarly and are particularly helpful when anxiety co-occurs with depression.
Buspirone is non-sedating and non-addictive for generalized anxiety. Hydroxyzine offers non-addictive as-needed relief and is often our preferred option for immediate symptom management.
In select cases where other treatments haven’t provided adequate relief, benzodiazepines may be considered very cautiously for short-term use only, with careful monitoring due to dependence risks.
Finding the right medication takes some trial and adjustment—we monitor closely and adjust based on your response.
Therapy for Anxiety & Lifestyle Support
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective therapy for anxiety, helping you identify and change thought patterns that fuel worry. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches you to change your relationship with anxious thoughts rather than fighting them.
Mindfulness helps you stay present instead of worrying about the future. We coordinate closely with experienced therapists throughout Monmouth County who specialize in these evidence-based treatments.
Lifestyle changes significantly reduce anxiety: regular exercise (as effective as medication for mild-moderate anxiety), good sleep habits, reducing caffeine, stress management techniques, and maintaining social connections.
We help you implement these alongside medication and therapy.
Book our Best Psychiatrists for Anxiety
Every patient’s journey is unique. We create individualized treatment plans that work for you.
Whether you need medication management, therapy coordination, or comprehensive treatment combining both, our Red Bank team helps patients throughout Monmouth County, Ocean County, and the Jersey Shore find relief from anxiety.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anxiety Treatment
Can anxiety be cured?
Many people achieve complete remission with treatment. 70-90% improve significantly with proper care. Some have episodes that fully resolve; others manage anxiety long-term with periods of wellness. At Kolli Psychiatry in Red Bank, we help Monmouth County patients achieve lasting relief through short-term or ongoing treatment.
What triggers panic attacks?
Triggers include caffeine, lack of sleep, high stress, certain medications, medical conditions, and specific phobias. However, unexpected panic attacks with no trigger are also common. At Kolli Psychiatry in Red Bank, we help identify triggers and develop prevention strategies for Monmouth County patients.
Do I need medication for anxiety?
Mild anxiety may improve with therapy and lifestyle changes. Moderate to severe anxiety typically benefits from medication, at least initially. Many Red Bank and Middletown patients use medication short-term while learning CBT skills, then taper off. Others need longer-term treatment. The decision depends on severity and your preferences.
Will anxiety medication change my personality?
No. Medications reduce excessive anxiety—they don’t change who you are. Most report feeling “like myself again.” If you feel unlike yourself (overly sedated, emotionally numb), the medication or dose isn’t right. Our Red Bank team finds medications that work without personality changes.
Can anxiety cause physical symptoms?
Absolutely. Anxiety causes racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, sweating, trembling. These aren’t imaginary—they’re from your overactive fight-or-flight response. Many Red Bank patients have been to the ER for chest pain, told “it’s just anxiety.” The physical symptoms are real and treatable.
What is anticipatory anxiety?
Anticipatory anxiety is worrying about future events days or weeks in advance—”fear of fear.” You might avoid making plans because you’re anxious about being anxious. CBT is particularly effective. Many Monmouth County patients find relief through treatment at our Red Bank office.
Is social anxiety the same as being shy?
No. Shyness is a personality trait. Social anxiety disorder is intense fear of being judged that causes significant distress and avoidance. You might skip important events or turn down opportunities. Social anxiety responds well to CBT and SSRIs at our Red Bank practice.
Do you see infants for separation anxiety?
Our practice treats adolescents (ages 13+) and adults. Separation anxiety in infants is typically a normal developmental stage. For young children with persistent or severe separation anxiety, we provide referrals to pediatric specialists in the Monmouth County area. We do treat separation anxiety in older children, teens, and adults at our Red Bank office.
Why do I wake up with anxiety?
Morning anxiety is very common. Cortisol (stress hormone) naturally peaks in the morning, triggering anxiety symptoms. Poor sleep worsens anxiety, creating a cycle. Morning anxiety is often a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder where worry starts immediately upon waking. At our Red Bank practice, we identify what’s causing your morning anxiety and develop a treatment plan—often including medication, sleep hygiene improvements, and morning routine adjustments.
ADHD and anxiety?
ADHD and anxiety commonly co-occur. Sometimes anxiety develops from years of ADHD-related struggles—missed deadlines, disorganization, chronic stress. Stimulant medications can worsen or improve anxiety depending on the person. At our Red Bank office, we carefully evaluate both conditions in Monmouth County patients, creating treatment plans that address ADHD and anxiety effectively without worsening either.
Somatic symptom disorder vs illness anxiety disorder?
Somatic symptom disorder involves excessive focus on physical symptoms (pain, fatigue) that cause significant distress—the symptoms are real. Illness anxiety disorder involves preoccupation with having or developing serious illness despite few or no physical symptoms—the anxiety about illness is the primary problem. Both respond well to SSRIs and cognitive behavioral therapy. Our Monmouth County providers differentiate between these conditions during comprehensive evaluation.
Anxiety meds OTC?
There are no FDA-approved over-the-counter medications for anxiety. Antihistamines like Benadryl aren’t designed for anxiety treatment. Supplements like magnesium or L-theanine aren’t FDA-regulated, can interact with medications, and lack consistent evidence. For safe, effective treatment, prescription medication evaluation is necessary. At Kolli Psychiatry in Red Bank, we offer many non-addictive options including SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, and hydroxyzine.
Adderall and anxiety?
Adderall affects anxiety differently depending on the person. For some with ADHD, stimulants reduce anxiety by improving focus and reducing ADHD-related stress. For others, stimulants worsen anxiety by increasing heart rate and nervous system activation. At our Red Bank practice, we monitor how ADHD medications affect anxiety in Monmouth County patients and adjust treatment—sometimes adding an SSRI, adjusting dosage, or switching to non-stimulant ADHD medications.
Can anxiety cause acid indigestion?
Yes. Anxiety activates “fight or flight” response, which slows digestion and increases stomach acid. Anxiety also causes you to swallow more air and tense abdominal muscles. Chronic anxiety increases risk of acid reflux, indigestion, and IBS. Many Red Bank patients report significant improvement in digestive symptoms once anxiety is treated. If you have persistent digestive symptoms, see your primary care doctor to rule out other causes while addressing anxiety.
Non addictive anxiety medication?
Several effective non-addictive medications treat anxiety. SSRIs (Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil) are first-line with no addiction risk. SNRIs (Effexor, Cymbalta) are also non-addictive. Buspirone is non-addictive and non-sedating. Hydroxyzine is non-addictive and works within 30-60 minutes. At Kolli Psychiatry in Red Bank, we prioritize non-addictive medications. Most Monmouth County patients achieve excellent relief with non-addictive options.
Pediatric dental anxiety near me?
Our Red Bank practice treats children and adolescents with dental anxiety and dental phobia. We provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to understand your child’s anxiety, prescribe anti-anxiety medications when appropriate for use before dental appointments, and coordinate care with pediatric dentists throughout Monmouth County.
Pediatric dentists offer child-friendly environments and techniques like nitrous oxide, while we address the underlying anxiety through medication management and therapy referrals. This combined approach—psychiatric care from our team plus specialized pediatric dental care—helps children overcome dental fears and receive necessary dental treatment.
Is generalised anxiety disorder a disability?
GAD can qualify as a disability under the ADA if it substantially limits major life activities like working, concentrating, or sleeping. Many Monmouth County patients have obtained workplace accommodations or disability benefits for severe GAD. Our Red Bank team provides documentation when appropriate. However, with proper treatment, many people with GAD achieve significant improvement and maintain full functioning.
Supplements for anxiety?
Many ask about magnesium, L-theanine, ashwagandha, or CBD. While some show promise, supplements aren’t regulated and can interact with medications. At our Red Bank practice, we discuss supplements safely as part of comprehensive treatment for Monmouth County patients. Never start without discussing with your provider.
What is the difference between anxiety and depression?
Anxiety and depression often co-occur but are different. Anxiety involves worry, physical tension, fear about the future. Depression involves sadness, loss of interest, hopelessness, low energy. Many patients at our Red Bank office experience both. The good news: many treatments work for both. We address all co-occurring conditions.
Does health anxiety go away?
Health anxiety rarely goes away on its own but responds very well to CBT and SSRIs. Many Monmouth County patients find relief at our Red Bank practice. The key is treating the anxiety rather than seeking more medical tests, which provides only temporary relief.
External References:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Institute of Mental Health
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Kolli Psychiatry | Red Bank, NJ | www.kollipsych.com
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for proper evaluation and treatment.
