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Anxiety treatment in Houston & across Texas
What anxiety actually looks like
We can all be nervous or anxious; this is part of our daily lives. We need some anxiety as a means of alertness to our surroundings and to prepare us for daily circumstances. However, anxiety in excess is not good. It can present with physical signs, such as your heart beating fast, trouble catching your breath, sweating, or shoulders feeling heavy. These symptoms often appear for no particular reason. They can also be part of an underlying medical condition, which is more easily missed. Excessive worry can also be present, even over situations that do not merit the worry.
You could be experiencing irritability and feelings that your mind is racing, or that something bad is about to happen. Anxiety can also make you feel at times as if you are losing control of the situation. This, in particular, can be scary.
At Tentie Psychiatry we make sure to carefully assess your symptoms and where they are coming from, and to understand you as a person, in order to provide the most accurate assessment of your situation and to offer the best treatment possible.
When is it time to see a psychiatrist?
- Significant worry or nervousness without an immediate explanation.
- Symptoms of palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, shaking or heaviness that last several minutes and have no medical explanation.
- Unexplained irritability and feeling restless all the time.
- Difficulties leaving home, with fear that something bad could happen.
- Having trouble concentrating, difficulties sleeping at night, or a racing mind.
Treatment options
Several medications have good response evidence as core treatment of underlying anxiety. As needed, medications that act faster (calming agents) can be prescribed carefully, depending on your symptoms and needs.
The right choice of medication depends on a careful review of your history and of previous medication trials with good outcomes or unwanted adverse effects. Augmentation strategies exist for partial response to core anxiety treatment. Psychotherapy has strong independent evidence for treatment and works well in combination with medications.
Good sleep, physical activity and a great support system are great additions to your wellbeing.
All treatment options are carefully reviewed with you, and you will have ample time and understanding to make the right decisions without feeling pressured.
Reviewed by José M. Torrijos, MD Board-certified adult psychiatrist, licensed in Texas. Last reviewed September 2026.
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Frequently asked
I need to take my as-needed medication every day and fear that my symptoms will get worse without it. What should I do?
Anxiety disorder treatment is complex and requires a careful assessment. Some people have never tried core anxiety treatment, or their treatment has not been optimal. We carefully assess the need for any medication you are taking and make a conscious decision about deprescribing as-needed medications or continuing them if necessary.
Could I have a medical condition and not know?
It is possible to have an underlying medical condition as the main or partial cause of your symptoms. Blood work to evaluate common conditions, a careful psychiatric assessment and collaboration with your medical providers will accurately find the cause of your symptoms.
I am worried about seeing a psychiatrist and telling my story. What can I do?
At Tentie Psychiatry we evaluate you at your own pace. If disclosing some information makes you feel uncomfortable, this is not a problem at all. You can rest assured that you will not be pressured into sharing information; the main goal is to make you feel comfortable. Very often, necessary information comes with time and arrives naturally in the flow of the rapport between the patient and the provider.
What if I don’t want to take medication for anxiety?
We work with you based on your preferences and your needs. You will not be pressured into taking medications. If medications are suggested, you can still choose not to take them, and we will continue to assess your condition over time without any judgment. You will also have time to consider other treatment options if necessary, such as integrative treatments or individual psychotherapy, and you can be referred to other providers for specific therapeutic treatments when appropriate.