Anxiety Treatment That Addresses the Full Cycle

Virtual and in-person care for anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, agoraphobia, and separation anxiety in Riverside and the Inland Empire

You might avoid making phone calls, driving on the freeway, or attending gatherings because the anticipation alone feels overwhelming. Anxiety in Riverside often shows up as racing thoughts before bed, tension in your chest when you walk into a crowded store, or the urge to cancel plans because leaving the house feels too hard. Avoidance brings temporary relief, but over time it strengthens the fear and shrinks your routine.

Mending Health Care treats anxiety disorders including panic disorder, social anxiety, agoraphobia, and separation anxiety through virtual and in-person psychiatric care. Treatment includes evaluation, skills-based coping strategies, and medication management when appropriate. Dr. Chioma Ahaiwe uses a culturally responsive approach that addresses the thoughts, physical symptoms, and avoidance patterns that keep anxiety in place. Sessions are conducted through secure video or in-person visits, so you do not need to travel across Riverside to receive consistent care.

If anxiety is limiting your daily life or keeping you from the people and places that matter, contact Mending Health Care to schedule your first appointment.

What treatment includes and how symptoms change

Your first session in Riverside involves a psychiatric evaluation that covers your anxiety symptoms, triggers, avoidance behaviors, medical history, and how anxiety affects your sleep, relationships, and work. Dr. Ahaiwe will ask about panic attacks, physical sensations, and situations you have started avoiding. The evaluation takes about 60 to 90 minutes and results in a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms.

After starting treatment, you will notice that panic attacks become less frequent, physical tension eases, and you feel more confident approaching situations you previously avoided. Therapy approaches such as cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness strategies help retrain your brain to reduce the fear response. Gradual exposure steps, built like a ladder, allow you to practice small repeatable actions that rebuild confidence over time.

Medication may be recommended depending on the severity of your symptoms and your medical history. When used, it is often paired with therapy to improve outcomes. You will also learn paced breathing techniques, grounding exercises such as the 5-4-3-2-1 senses method, and routines that protect sleep and reduce caffeine intake. These tools do not eliminate anxiety entirely, but they give you control over how you respond to it.

Starting anxiety treatment can feel intimidating, especially if you have avoided help for a long time. Below are answers to questions that come up frequently before someone books their first session.

Most people want to know what happens first

Panic attacks can involve sudden intense fear, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, shaking, nausea, or feeling unreal. Treatment includes identifying triggers, learning grounding techniques, and sometimes medication to reduce frequency and intensity.
What does a panic attack feel like and how is it treated?
Social anxiety often involves fear of judgment, intense self-consciousness, avoidance of speaking up, meeting new people, or being observed. You might rehearse conversations in your head or leave events early to escape discomfort.
How does social anxiety show up in daily life?
Gradual exposure involves taking small, repeatable steps toward what you have been avoiding, such as driving one exit farther each week or ordering coffee in person instead of through an app. This retrains your brain to recognize that the feared situation is safe.
What is gradual exposure and why does it help?
Medication may be appropriate if anxiety is severe, disrupts daily functioning, or has not improved with coping strategies alone. Dr. Ahaiwe evaluates your symptoms and medical history to determine whether medication is a good fit for you.
When is medication used for anxiety?
Yes. Virtual and in-person care in Riverside allows you to receive evaluation, therapy support, medication management, and follow-up with flexible scheduling options. The platform is HIPAA-compliant and works on most devices.
Can anxiety treatment be done entirely through virtual and in-person sessions?

If anxiety has been narrowing your world or keeping you from living the way you want to, Mending Health Care offers virtual and in-person psychiatric care that treats the full cycle of fear and avoidance. You do not need to wait until symptoms become unbearable. Get in touch to schedule your evaluation in Riverside today.