Everyone gets anxious sometimes. It happens when you’re about to have a tough talk, go through a big transition, or when an important outcome is unclear. An anxiety disorder is different.
People with an anxiety disorder experience worry, fear, tension, or physical symptoms that last for such long periods of time that they can disrupt sleep, focus, relationships, work, or school and impact the ability to get through the day.
At Arista Recovery Ohio, we provide inpatient mental health treatment in Hilliard for adults whose symptoms require more intensive treatment than weekly outpatient care can offer. A client’s admission to our program depends on the results of a clinical screening and safety needs assessment, clinical necessity, and program appropriateness.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr. David Kashan, DO
Medical Director & Attending Psychiatrist, Arista Recovery Ohio
Psychiatry • Substance Use Disorders & Dual Diagnosis
Anxiety Treatment at a Glance
We also have a Hilliard facility available for adults in need of mental health treatment in Ohio instead of addiction treatment. Inpatient care includes daily therapy, individual and group counseling, family therapy where appropriate, and medication management where medically indicated. Although some of our patients will have co-occurring substance abuse disorders along with anxiety, we do not require an addiction to enter care.
Treatment plans for anxiety will vary depending on what challenges each patient is facing. For instance, one client may require treatment for constant, generalized worry while another may struggle with panic attacks, trauma-related anxiety, depression, insomnia, or any combination of the above. We will perform a full evaluation to identify the best treatment plan for you as well as the right level of care to ensure your safety.
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety is not simply feeling nervous now and then. As explained by the National Institute of Mental Health, generalized anxiety disorder is excessive, difficult-to-control worrying that may interfere with day-to-day life. Other types of anxiety disorders have different presentations, precipitants, and diagnostic criteria. When considering a diagnosis, clinicians consider the nature of the symptoms, how long they’ve been going on, their intensity, and how they impair a person’s functioning.
Stress is not always bad, and even normal stress can be very intense. However, it is usually triggered by a known cause, and once the issue passes, the stress generally subsides. When someone has an anxiety disorder, they find themselves continuing to be impacted in their daily lives even if they try to ignore the symptoms. Treatment does not mean you’ll never feel anxious again. Instead, treatment aims to minimize destructive behaviors, teach you healthy ways to cope with stress, and help you live a productive life.
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Symptoms and Warning Signs
Anxiety symptoms impact both the mental and physical spheres. Examples include excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, headaches, hyperventilation, lightheadedness, and feeling “jumpy.” People may also find that they’re avoiding places like work or school, traveling, social events, medical appointments, and other activities due to their fear of having an anxiety attack in those situations.
These warning signs alone are insufficient for a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Various medical illnesses, side effects of medications, use of illicit substances, lack of sleep, traumatic experiences, depression, and other psychiatric conditions can cause similar presentations. If your anxiety feels unmanageable, lasts for extended periods of time, or begins to impact your daily functioning negatively, professional help is recommended.
When to Seek Professional Help for Anxiety
If anxiety is persistently impacting your job, social life, sleep, ability to take care of yourself, education, or duties, it’s time to talk with a therapist.
If the things that used to manage your anxiety aren’t working anymore, if you find yourself panicking or avoiding things more often, or if anxiety is happening along with depression, drugs/alcohol, or suicide, it’s time to seek help.
Needing treatment doesn’t automatically mean you need inpatient treatment. Many people can get well with just outpatient therapy, medication, or both.
Inpatient mental health treatment may be appropriate if symptoms are severe, if daily functioning has decreased significantly, if there is a risk of harm, or if you need a more structured environment to receive assessment and stabilization.
Crisis and Emergency Guidance
Please note that an anxiety treatment center is not a replacement for emergency care. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you have attempted suicide, you’re in imminent danger, you are very confused, or you have another urgent safety issue, please dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. You can also call or text 988 to speak with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. While Arista’s admissions team can discuss treatment with you, you should address urgent issues through crisis services or the emergency room.
What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
There isn’t one cause for anxiety disorders. Heredity, biological reactions to stress, personality type, trauma, medical conditions, chronic stress, and environmental factors can all contribute.
Some people might experience anxiety symptoms that are caused or worsened by substance use or withdrawal.
A good assessment will consider all contributing factors, rather than assuming anxiety came from one specific incident or a character flaw. This is important because you want treatment to match the causes of your condition.
A person who has had generalized anxiety for many years may need a different treatment approach than a person who is experiencing anxiety related to trauma, depression, medication changes, or substance use.
Anxiety and Co-Occurring Substance Use
Anxiety and substance use are related. Some individuals drink alcohol, take sedatives, consume cannabis, take stimulants, or use other substances to try to improve their emotional state. Other times, substance intoxication or withdrawal increases anxiety, panic, insomnia, or irritability. The dynamic varies by person, so clinicians must consider timing, substance use patterns, withdrawal risk, and standalone mental health issues. When both are occurring, Arista will evaluate whether a dual diagnosis program is right for you. Treating only one half of a complex issue isn’t ideal.
How Anxiety Treatment Works at Arista Recovery Ohio
We start with a private clinical assessment and screening. You’ll discuss your symptoms, how they affect your life, any safety concerns, your history with mental health treatment, your medications, your general health status, and any drug or alcohol use that might impact your treatment. If inpatient mental health treatment is recommended, your program will be customized to you rather than following an anxiety-only pathway.
Our Hilliard campus offers daily therapy, individualized therapy, group skills training, family sessions (with your permission), and medication management or consultations (when medically appropriate). Treatment may be centered around exploring your anxiety patterns, decreasing avoidance behaviors, developing effective coping techniques, improving your sleep and everyday habits, and creating an aftercare plan when you leave inpatient treatment. Qualified prescribers will consider your background and needs before recommending medications.
Levels of Care for Anxiety
Not everyone searching for an anxiety treatment center needs the same intensity of care. Outpatient therapy can be appropriate when a person is functioning safely at home and can use treatment while continuing daily responsibilities. More structured outpatient programs may be appropriate when weekly therapy is not enough but overnight care is not needed.
Arista Recovery Ohio’s Hilliard campus currently provides inpatient mental health treatment for adults who need a higher level of structure. It also operates separate addiction services. Placement depends on assessment, safety, and service availability. Emergency psychiatric hospitalization is different from Arista’s inpatient mental health program and may be necessary when immediate containment or hospital-level medical care is required.
Therapies Used for Anxiety
Psychotherapy is a core part of anxiety treatment. NIMH describes cognitive behavioral therapy as an evidence-based approach that can help people recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress. For anxiety disorders, CBT-based work can also include learning how to respond differently to feared situations or sensations.
Arista lists cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy among its treatment approaches. The specific methods used should match the person’s diagnosis, goals, tolerance, and treatment plan. No single therapy is required or appropriate for every person with anxiety.
Family Support and Planning for Life After Treatment
Anxiety can affect your entire family. They might struggle to understand why you’re avoiding things, having trouble sleeping, being irritable, needing constant reassurance, or changing your schedule abruptly. If you’re comfortable with this, and it makes sense in your treatment, family therapy could help them understand how to support your journey without unintentionally reinforcing unhelpful coping habits.
Aftercare planning will help you prepare for life after inpatient care. You might create a plan for follow-up therapy, medication management, coping strategies, sleep routines, warning signs, and emergency contacts. The goal is to leave with actionable plans, not just a general idea of how to cope.
Anxiety Treatment in Hilliard, Ohio
Arista Recovery Ohio offers primary adult inpatient mental health services at 5471 Scioto Darby Road, Hilliard, just outside of Columbus. This service is independent of their substance use treatment track on the same campus. That separation is important to note, since a patient can be admitted for a mental health condition only.
The program provides inpatient mental health care for adults living in Hilliard, Columbus, and elsewhere in Ohio. Patients must be screened and must have an available bed. If your anxiety is part of a larger picture, their admissions team can advise whether the mental health program, a dual diagnosis program, or some other treatment option is the best fit for you.
Insurance and Admissions
The first step is a confidential screening. Admissions can ask about current symptoms, recent changes in functioning, medications, safety concerns, medical history, and substance use when relevant. That information helps the team determine whether Arista’s inpatient mental health program is clinically appropriate.
Insurance benefits are separate from clinical eligibility. Coverage varies by plan, network, authorization rules, and medical necessity. Use Arista’s insurance verification process to review benefits, but do not assume that a covered service guarantees admission.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety Treatment
How do I know if anxiety is more than normal stress?
Normal worry and stress happen all the time. More serious worry requires professional evaluation if it’s persistent, seems uncontrollable, or repeatedly disrupts sleep, work, relationships, school, self-care, or everyday tasks.
Does severe anxiety always require inpatient treatment?
Not necessarily. Outpatient care is appropriate for many. Inpatient treatment might be considered when symptoms cause significant impairment, pose a safety risk, or require more structure than outpatient care offers.
Can medication be part of anxiety treatment?
For certain types of anxiety, medication may be helpful as a component of treatment. A licensed prescriber at Arista Recovery Ohio can evaluate your current medications to determine whether medication treatment would be beneficial.
What if anxiety and depression happen together?
These conditions often coexist. Both should be evaluated separately rather than assuming one diagnosis accounts for all of your symptoms. A treatment plan could address co-occurring issues while focusing on the most impairing symptoms.
Can I receive anxiety treatment if I also use alcohol or drugs?
This depends on your situation. Substance use can worsen symptoms of anxiety and affect your treatment. Arista can evaluate your situation and determine if you’d be better suited for primary mental health treatment or a dual diagnosis program.
What if I am having suicidal thoughts?
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a routine treatment admission in an emergency.
Talk With Arista About Anxiety Treatment
If anxiety is interfering with daily life and routine outpatient support no longer feels like enough, Arista Recovery Ohio can help you understand the next step. Call 866.430.9267 or contact the admissions team for a confidential screening and insurance review. The goal is to determine whether inpatient mental health treatment in Hilliard fits your current needs, not to force every person into the same level of care.
Medical Disclaimer
This page is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice from a qualified health care professional. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For suicidal thoughts or emotional crisis, call or text 988.
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What You Need to Know
- Mayo Clinic. Anxiety disorders: Diagnosis and treatment
- MedlinePlus. Anxiety
- PubMed / JAMA Psychiatry. Psychotherapies for generalized anxiety disorder: Network meta-analysis
- National Institute of Mental Health. Psychotherapies
- World Health Organization. Mental disorders
