Anxiety Treatment in Rockville, Maryland

Evidence-based anxiety care for adults across Montgomery County. Medication management, Deep TMS, and telehealth, delivered by board-certified psychiatrists who take anxiety seriously.

Book a Free Consultation Call (240) 599-1001

Serving Rockville, Bethesda, and Montgomery County

Anxiety is treatable. Most people wait too long to get help.

Anxiety is one of the most treatable conditions in psychiatry. The challenge has never been whether it responds to treatment. The challenge is finding a clinical team that takes it seriously, understands the full range of options, and builds a plan that fits you.

Bright Horizons Psychiatry treats adults with generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, and anxiety complicated by depression, ADHD, or treatment resistance. Our approach combines thoughtful psychiatric evaluation with evidence-based care you can actually stick with.

What Makes Bright Horizons Different

We’d rather give you the full picture than a sales pitch. Here’s what you should know — benefits and limitations.

  • A boutique practice, not a clinic.
    You see the same psychiatrist every visit. Your appointments are long enough to actually talk through what’s happening. You are not a chart number.
  • Specialty-level care for complex cases.
    Anxiety complicated by depression, ADHD, treatment resistance, or failed medication trials is exactly the work we’re built for.
  • Careful, conservative prescribing.
    We start with the smallest effective dose and the fewest medications needed. Benzodiazepines are prescribed cautiously, not as a default.
  • Coordinated therapy referrals.
    Most anxiety patients benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy alongside medication. We don’t offer CBT in-house, but we coordinate closely with trusted Montgomery County specialists whose entire practice is built around anxiety therapy.
Anxiety Treatment in Rockville, MD

WHAT TO EXPECT

What the Process Looks Like

Step 1

Initial consultation

Book online or by phone. Intake paperwork is sent ahead of time so your first appointment is clinical work, not forms.

Step 2

Comprehensive evaluation

A 60 to 90 minute appointment with your psychiatrist, covering your history, symptoms, previous treatments, and goals.

Step 3

Clear options, clear plan.

We walk you through the options, the trade-offs, the timelines, and what to expect. You are a participant in the decision, not a passenger.

Step 4

Follow-up and adjustment

Most patients are seen every two to four weeks early in treatment, then monthly or less often as stability is reached.

Step 5

Ongoing care

Anxiety treatment is not a straight line. Ongoing care through adjustments, flare-ups, and maintenance.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and Deep TMS for adults with anxiety disorders, and we coordinate with external therapists for CBT.

Medication management and psychiatric evaluation are generally covered by most insurance plans. Deep TMS coverage varies by insurance and diagnosis. We verify coverage before beginning treatment.

Not in-house. We coordinate with trusted CBT specialists in the Montgomery County area and work closely alongside them.

Anxiety that has not responded adequately to multiple first-line medication trials and therapy. Options include medication reevaluation, augmentation, Deep TMS, and investigation of underlying conditions that can masquerade as treatment resistance.

Evidence is strongest for anxious depression. For treatment-resistant generalized anxiety, Deep TMS may be reasonable after first-line treatments have been exhausted.

We typically schedule new patient evaluations within one to two weeks, with faster access for urgent presentations.

Do you treat bipolar anxiety? We treat Bipolar II and bipolar depression. We do not treat Bipolar I.

Ready to Get Started?

The Next Step Is an Evaluation

Anxiety responds to treatment. The thing most patients regret isn’t trying the wrong medication first. It’s waiting years before taking anxiety seriously enough to get real help.

Bright Horizons Psychiatry serves Rockville, Bethesda, and all of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Book Free Consultation Call (240) 599-1001 6000 Executive Blvd #101, Rockville MD

Medication for Anxiety

Several classes of medication treat anxiety effectively. The right choice depends on your specific presentation, medical history, and previous treatment response.

SSRIs and SNRIs

SSRIs like sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil) are first-line treatments for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety. SNRIs like venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) are similarly effective and sometimes preferred based on patient history.

How long does sertraline take to work for anxiety?

SSRIs typically take four to six weeks to reach full effect for anxiety, which can feel long when you’re suffering. Many patients notice partial improvement sooner, but the full benefit often arrives gradually.

Best time to take Lexapro for anxiety?

There’s no universal answer. Some patients do better with morning dosing, others at night. We guide the decision based on how the medication affects your sleep, energy, and side effect pattern. Consistency matters more than timing in most cases.

Is Lexapro good for anxiety?

Lexapro is one of the most commonly prescribed and best-tolerated SSRIs for anxiety, with strong clinical evidence for both generalized anxiety and panic disorder. It is often a good starting choice for patients new to psychiatric medication.

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) for Anxiety

Wellbutrin for anxiety is one of the most searched questions in psychiatric medication. The honest answer is nuanced. Wellbutrin is not a first-line anxiety medication and can actually worsen anxiety in some patients, particularly early in treatment. However, it is sometimes used strategically when anxiety coexists with depression and fatigue, or when SSRI side effects (like reduced libido or emotional blunting) are limiting treatment.

Does Wellbutrin help with anxiety?

For patients whose anxiety is strongly driven by depressive symptoms, yes. For patients with primary anxiety disorders, generally no, and sometimes it makes things worse. This is why accurate diagnosis matters before medication selection.

Beta Blockers (Propranolol) for Anxiety

Propranolol for anxiety is a beta blocker used specifically for the physical symptoms of anxiety, especially in performance and situational contexts. It doesn’t treat the emotional experience of anxiety. It blocks the adrenaline-driven physical cascade (racing heart, trembling, sweating, voice shake) that often accompanies acute anxiety episodes.

Propranolol dose for anxiety typically starts low (10 to 20 mg taken as needed before a stressful event) and can be titrated based on response. For chronic use, dosing is different and is individualized.

How quickly does propranolol work for anxiety?

Propranolol begins working within 30 to 60 minutes of an oral dose, which is why it’s frequently used situationally for public speaking, performances, test anxiety, or specific phobic exposures. It is not a long-term treatment for generalized anxiety.

What is the maximum dose of propranolol for anxiety?

Maximum dosing varies significantly by patient, indication, and medical context. Propranolol affects heart rate and blood pressure, so dose decisions should be made with your prescribing physician and are not something to self-adjust.

Buspirone (Buspar) for Anxiety

Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic used for generalized anxiety disorder. It is non-sedating, non-habit-forming, and typically takes two to four weeks to reach full effect.

How long does buspirone take to work for anxiety?

Two to four weeks for full effect in most patients. It is a good option for patients who want long-term anxiety management without the dependency concerns of benzodiazepines, but it doesn’t work acutely.

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety

Hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax) is an antihistamine with anxiolytic properties. It works quickly (within one to two hours), is non-habit-forming, and can be useful for situational anxiety, sleep-related anxiety, or as a bridge while waiting for an SSRI to take effect.

Clonidine and Gabapentin for Anxiety

Clonidine for anxiety is an off-label use. Originally developed as a blood pressure medication, clonidine can reduce anxiety symptoms through a different mechanism than SSRIs, particularly for patients with physical hyperarousal, sleep-related anxiety, or trauma-related symptoms.

Gabapentin for anxiety is similarly off-label but sometimes used for patients with coexisting nerve-pain symptoms, sleep problems, or when SSRIs haven’t worked. It is not first-line for anxiety but has a role in select cases.

Does gabapentin help with anxiety?

For some patients, yes, particularly when sleep disturbance or physical tension is dominant. The evidence is weaker than for SSRIs and we consider gabapentin as an add-on or alternative rather than a primary treatment.

Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan)

Benzodiazepines including alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and lorazepam (Ativan) are highly effective for acute anxiety but carry significant risks including dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal. At Bright Horizons, we prescribe benzodiazepines cautiously and sparingly. They have a role (particularly short-term during SSRI onset, or for specific panic protocols) but they are not a first-line long-term anxiety treatment.

Non-addictive anxiety medication exists and should be the default starting point for most patients. SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, hydroxyzine, and beta blockers are all non-habit-forming alternatives with strong evidence bases.

Adderall and Anxiety

Does Adderall help with anxiety?

Adderall is a stimulant used for ADHD. For patients whose anxiety is driven by untreated ADHD (where the scattered, overwhelmed feeling is fundamentally an attention and organization problem), treating the ADHD can reduce anxiety meaningfully. For patients with primary anxiety disorders without ADHD, Adderall typically worsens symptoms.

Can Adderall help with anxiety?

Only in the specific context above. Patients with coexisting ADHD and anxiety need careful evaluation to determine the right treatment sequence. Treating ADHD first with stimulants when anxiety is severe can amplify the anxiety and make both harder to treat.

Can Adderall cause anxiety?

Yes, particularly in patients who don’t have ADHD, at high doses, or during initial titration. Anxiety is a known side effect that usually resolves with dose adjustment or discontinuation.

Adderall for anxiety as a standalone treatment is not appropriate and is not something we prescribe.