Occasional worry is a normal part of life. Anxiety may require professional attention when it feels difficult to control, continues even when there is no immediate threat, or begins affecting sleep, concentration, work, relationships, or everyday activities.
I am Dr. Tanya Underwood, a board-certified adult psychiatrist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. I provide secure virtual psychiatric evaluations and medication management for adults throughout Arizona experiencing generalized anxiety, panic attacks, panic disorder, social anxiety, and related symptoms.
Together, we can look beyond the symptoms, understand how anxiety is affecting your life, and develop an individualized plan for moving forward.
When Anxiety Becomes More Than Everyday Stress
Stress usually relates to an identifiable pressure or situation. Anxiety can continue after the immediate stress has passed or appear even when no clear danger is present.
Anxiety disorders can affect thoughts, emotions, behavior, and the body. Some people feel constantly on edge. Others experience sudden episodes of intense fear, avoid social situations, struggle with sleep, or find it difficult to focus because their mind is always anticipating what could go wrong.
What to look for
Common Anxiety Symptoms
Excessive or difficult-to-control worry
Irritability
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Muscle tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort
Shortness of breath
Avoiding people, places, activities, or responsibilities
Feeling restless, tense, or on edge
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or dizziness
Fear of losing control or something terrible happening
Anxiety symptoms can overlap with depression, ADHD, trauma-related conditions, medical problems, medication effects, or substance use. A complete evaluation helps identify what may be contributing to your symptoms.
What to look for
Common Anxiety Symptoms
Excessive or difficult-to-control worry
Irritability
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Muscle tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort
Shortness of breath
Avoiding people, places, activities, or responsibilities
Feeling restless, tense, or on edge
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or dizziness
Fear of losing control or something terrible happening
Anxiety symptoms can overlap with depression, ADHD, trauma-related conditions, medical problems, medication effects, or substance use. A complete evaluation helps identify what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder can involve persistent and excessive worry about several parts of life, such as work, health, finances, family, relationships, or everyday responsibilities.
The worry may feel out of proportion to the situation and difficult to turn off. It can be accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, poor concentration, and disrupted sleep.
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that may include a racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest discomfort, nausea, numbness, or fear of losing control.
An isolated panic attack is not the same as panic disorder. Panic disorder may involve recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by ongoing fear of another attack or changes in behavior intended to avoid one.
Because some medical conditions can cause similar physical symptoms, a professional evaluation is important. New, severe, or unexplained chest pain or breathing difficulty should be evaluated promptly through appropriate medical care.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder involves strong fear or anxiety in situations where a person may feel watched, evaluated, embarrassed, or judged.
People with social anxiety may avoid these situations entirely or endure them with significant distress. The condition is more than shyness when the fear is persistent and interferes with work, education, relationships, or daily life.
Meeting new people
Participating in meetings or classes
Job interviews
Asking questions or requesting help
Speaking in public
Dating
Eating or writing in front of others
Attending social events
A Personalized Psychiatric Evaluation
During your initial evaluation, I will ask about when your symptoms began, how often they occur, situations that make them better or worse, previous treatment, current medications, sleep, physical health, and the ways anxiety is affecting your life.
The goal is not to apply a label quickly. It is to understand the complete picture and identify an appropriate treatment direction.
Because this is a solo practice, you receive care directly from me during your evaluation and follow-up appointments.
Treatment and Medication Management
Anxiety treatment may involve psychotherapy, medication, or both. The most appropriate approach depends on the type of anxiety, symptom severity, medical history, personal preferences, and other conditions that may also be present.
Underwood Psychiatry focuses on psychiatric evaluation and medication management. When medication is appropriate, I discuss potential benefits, side effects, safety considerations, and what we will monitor over time.
Psychotherapy, including approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, may also be an important part of care and can be coordinated with an appropriate therapist.
Virtual Anxiety Care Throughout Arizona
Secure virtual appointments make it possible to meet from a private and familiar environment. This can reduce travel, waiting-room stress, and scheduling difficulties while maintaining direct access to the same psychiatrist.
Underwood Psychiatry serves adults throughout Arizona, including Tucson, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, and surrounding communities.
Direct, personalized care
Why Choose Dr. Tanya Underwood?
Board-certified adult psychiatrist
Experience with generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety
Direct care without rotating providers
Respectful, compassionate communication
More than 25 years of clinical experience
Personalized medication management
Secure telemedicine throughout Arizona
Questions
Anxiety FAQs
What is the difference between normal stress and an anxiety disorder?
Stress often relates to a specific external pressure and may improve when the situation resolves. An anxiety disorder can involve persistent fear or worry that is difficult to control and interferes with everyday functioning, even when there is no immediate threat.
Is a panic attack the same as panic disorder?
No. A person can experience a single or occasional panic attack without having panic disorder. Panic disorder generally involves repeated unexpected panic attacks along with ongoing worry or behavioral changes related to fear of future attacks.
Can social anxiety be treated?
Yes. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of approaches depending on the person. A psychiatric evaluation can help determine what options may be appropriate.
Does everyone with anxiety need medication?
No. Medication is one possible part of treatment. Recommendations depend on the type and severity of anxiety, medical history, other conditions, previous treatment, and personal preferences.
Does Dr. Underwood provide therapy?
Underwood Psychiatry focuses on psychiatric evaluations and medication management. When psychotherapy would be beneficial, Dr. Underwood may recommend coordinating care with an appropriate therapist.
Can I complete an anxiety evaluation virtually?
Yes. Dr. Underwood provides secure video or phone appointments for adults located throughout Arizona.
Do you accept insurance?
The practice works with most major insurance plans and offers self-pay options. Coverage varies, so please view the Insurance information on the website or contact the practice to confirm current participation and benefits.
Anxiety Does Not Have to Make Every Decision for You
If worry, panic, or fear is limiting your daily life, a psychiatric evaluation can help clarify what you are experiencing and what treatment options may be appropriate. Request a secure virtual appointment with Dr. Tanya Underwood from anywhere in Arizona.