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Psychiatry in Toms River

Medication for Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is most often treated with talk therapy. In severe or complicated cases, medication can be used to support the treatment.

Does Your Anxiety Need Medication?

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders, and levels continue to rise year after year. Although talk therapy is often the first line of defense against anxiety—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, and others are highly effective treatments for anxiety—many people find the additional support that anxiety medication brings to be extremely valuable.

You could benefit from taking anxiety medication if your anxiety is not going away with talk therapy or is preventing you from working, socializing, talking to a therapist, or otherwise hindering your life. Getting medication for anxiety starts with talking to a Psychiatrist.

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor trained to treat mental health disorders. They prescribe and manage medications for mental health. Lifebulb employs many psychiatrists in Toms River so you can have easy access to the best anxiety treatment in Ocean County.

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Psychiatry for Anxiety Medication in Toms River
Psychiatry for Anxiety Medication in Toms River

What Do Anxiety Meds Do?

There are some misconceptions around what anxiety meds actually do. They don’t cure you, and they don’t change your personality. Depending on the type of medication you are prescribed, anxiety meds may:
  • ​​Reduce excessive worry and fear 
  • Balance brain chemicals 
  • Lower physical symptoms of anxiety 
  • Decrease the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.
  • Help improve sleep 
  • Make it easier to focus and function 
  • Support therapy and coping strategies
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Common Fears About Anxiety Medication

Medication for anxiety has been approved for safe and effective use. Let’s address some common fears that may stop people from taking medication for their anxiety.

Fact: Most anxiety meds do not change personality.

When administered with the correct dose and type, anxiety medication will not change your personality. In fact, they might make you feel more like yourself. The biggest change will happen when your anxiety symptoms fade, but allowing yourself to be who you are without anxiety is not a personality change; it’s living to your full potential. Occasionally, side effects like loss of interest or loss of emotions may happen on anxiety meds. If it does, talk to your psychiatrist about switching type or dosage.   

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Fact: Most anxiety medications are not addictive.

For long-term use, psychiatrists will prescribe anxiety medications that are not addictive. Meds that are SSRIs or SNRIs are not habit-forming. Although it is not recommended that you stop them cold turkey, they are not addictive in the same way drugs are.

Benzodiazepines like Xanax are short-term relief anxiety meds that work to slow down the central nervous system. These can be addictive and are not recommended for long-term use. If your psychiatrist prescribes you these, they will work with you to ensure proper usage. Talk to your psychiatrist if you have concerns about forming an addiction.

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Fact: Anxiety Meds don’t have to be forever.

It usually takes 4-6 weeks for anti-anxiety medication to work, but people can be on them for many years. Some people choose to stay on anxiety meds for life, while others only stay on them for a few months. Anxiety meds can help you get through a difficult, stressful time in your life. They can also provide symptom relief while you work on long-term solutions like talk therapy and coping mechanisms. The choice is entirely up to you, and the power to choose will remain in your hands when you work with a Lifebulb psychiatrist.

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Fact: Insurance Plans Cover Mental Health Medication.

Most insurance providers will cover mental health medication the same way they cover medication for your physical health. This means that copays and deductibles will apply, but insurance is likely to cover at least part of your medication. Also, buying generic drugs is often cheaper and is just as effective and safe as buying on-brand drugs. Talk with your psychiatrist if cost is a concern for you. Different brands of mental health medications will vary in cost, and your psychiatrist can help you find medication that is both cost-effective and treats your symptoms.

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Meredith Wymertherapist

Meredith Wymer

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Meredith Wymer is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing medication management across the lifespan. In addition to her current work in the outpatient mental health se...

Adolescents 13-17 Adults 18-64 Adults 65+ Children 6-12
Aimee Grosstherapist

Aimee Gross

LCSW

You don’t have to face life’s challenges alone. Aimee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience helping adults find calm, clarity, and confidence through times of stre...

Adults 18-64
Gina Coupetherapist

Gina Coupe

LCSW

Gina is a licensed clinical social worker with an MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work. Her practice fosters the idea that all individuals have the ability to heal the self through res...

Adults 18-64 Adults 65+ Couples Family
Andrew Blancotherapist

Andrew Blanco

LCSW

Andrew has been a therapist for nearly two decades, specializing in family counseling and individual counseling across all ages. After graduating from New York University in 2008, he began his clini...

Adolescents 13-17 Adults 18-64 Adults 65+ Children 6-12 Couples Family
Amy Thompkinstherapist

Amy Thompkins

PMHNP

Hi, I’m Amy Thompkins and I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. With almost 20 years of nursing experience, I’ve had the privilege of caring for people through many...

Adolescents 13-17 Adults 18-64 Adults 65+
Amy Reyestherapist

Amy Reyes

Supervisee in Social Work

I am a Licensed Social Worker and I have been in the mental heath field for the past 9 years working with a variety of client populations, including children, adolescents, and adults, all within the ...

Adults 18-64 Adults 65+ Family

How Psychiatric Care Works

Don’t let fear of the process stop you from taking this important step towards greater mental health and talking with a psychiatrist. Here are the 5 steps you’ll go through when working with a psychiatrist in Toms River.

Initial Appointment

Your first appointment will be an information-gathering session. They’ll ask about your mental health history, physical health history, and any other important information. This is your time to ask questions and voice your concerns. It’s important to feel comfortable with your psychiatrist, so feel free to ask them any questions you have!

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Diagnosis

In order to receive medication, you’ll need an official diagnosis. A Psychiatrist can provide that. They’ve been trained to diagnose conditions using the DSM-5 (the handbook for diagnosing and treating mental illnesses) and other scientifically-proven methods. Usually, with anxiety, the initial appointment will be a diagnosis appointment. For more complicated or co-occurring disorders, a follow-up diagnosis appointment may be necessary.

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Prescription

After you’ve received your diagnosis, it’s time to get your prescription! Your psychiatrist will go over many different options with you and present you with the best one. This is usually a medication that takes into account your symptoms, other medications you’ve been taking, and your goals. (For example, wanting to decrease panic attacks might warrant a different medication than wanting to stop constant worrying.)

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Follow Ups

It’s normal to try a few types of medication and play with the dosage until you find the right one. You want to find a medication that has minimal to no side effects while fully treating your anxiety symptoms. This might take a while, as it can take up to 5-6 weeks for medication to start working. Follow all instructions your psychiatrist gives you and be honest about how the medication is working for you. This will help the process go faster.

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Adjustments and Maintenance

“Maintenance therapy” is very important. Life changes, and you’ll change with it. Changes to exercise, diet, sleep, and weight can all influence how your body reacts to mental health medication. Most people meet with their psychiatrist once every month or every 3 months to refill their prescription and check that everything is still working the way it’s supposed to. If it’s not—if you’ve had unsavory side effects or if the medication is not working—your psychiatrist can change your dose, type, or frequency of medication.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduling is easy! Simply choose a psychiatrist from our extensive therapist directory. Fill out the quick form, and we’ll get in touch to confirm your appointment. 

If you don’t feel like choosing a psychiatrist, give us a call, and we’ll match you with an Ocean County therapist that fits your needs.

Lifebulb Counseling & Therapy adheres to all HIPAA policies. This means your personal information will be protected throughout every step of the process: from requesting a session, to your first appointment, all the way to when you decide to stop therapy.

Lifebulb was built on the core belief that good therapists provide good therapy, and that in order for a therapist to be good, they need to feel supported. We prioritize our therapists’ wellness so that they can give you their full attention. No burnout, no counting the minutes till the end of the session, no racing to meet quotas, no wasting time wrestling with insurance panels. 

The result? More time, more energy, and more joy they get to put towards what they do best: helping you!

Online anxiety therapy sessions use HIPAA-compliant video software that is 100% secure. We never record sessions and will never ask you to jump on a video call that is not HIPAA compliant. Our therapists also always take video sessions from a private and secure place. There’s no risk of anyone overhearing you.

Yes! Lifebulb prides itself on being HIPAA compliant and making client privacy a top priority. Have questions or concerns about our privacy policy? You can email us at privacy@lifebulb.com 

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