The Different Faces of Anxiety and Who Can Help

Author : Merle Pugh | Published On : 20 Oct 2026

Before every Monday meeting, Hannah’s palms sweated, her heart raced and her mind ran the same worst case script. By Wednesday she was exhausted. By Friday she needed a nap she couldn’t take.

She thought everyone felt this way. Plenty of people do. That doesn’t make it normal to live with.

When worry becomes a condition

The Life Balance Health site explains that anxiety is the body’s response to stress, but when it’s persistent, excessive or hard to control, it crosses into a clinical condition. Many people manage symptoms alone for years without knowing treatment exists.

That was Hannah. Seven years of white knuckling it.

Three types the practice names

Generalized anxiety disorder means chronic, wide ranging worry that feels out of proportion. Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear of being judged or embarrassed, often leading to avoiding interactions. Panic disorder involves recurring unexpected panic attacks and a persistent fear of having another.

Hannah’s pattern looked like the first one, but with a social twist. Hard to say without an evaluation.

Why the label matters

Different types call for different plans. An anxiety psychiatrist starts with a thorough assessment of your symptoms, medical history and contributing factors to figure out which type you have.

Patrick Ollar does that at Life Balance Health. From there he tailors treatment to your symptoms, triggers and circumstances.

Aetna angle

Hannah has Aetna in Sacramento. The insurances page lists Aetna for California, Nevada and Oregon patients, so she moved forward. Still, she called her plan to ask about telehealth mental health benefits, because that’s where plans differ.

Call 702 551 2516 for details, or use the online booking link.

Getting started

A telehealth consultation is the start, the site says. You’d talk through your experience from home, which helps if leaving the house feels like a lot on a bad day. That’s especially useful for social anxiety.

Many adults find that adult psychiatry with a patient, thoughtful provider ends years of guessing. Hannah wished she’d called sooner.

FAQs

How do I know which anxiety I have?
A psychiatric evaluation helps determine the type.

Is telehealth okay for anxiety?
The practice offers telehealth consultations for anxiety.

Does it accept Aetna?
Aetna is listed for California, Nevada and Oregon.

Conclusion

Hannah’s Mondays are better now. Anxiety comes in different shapes, and an anxiety psychiatrist can help you figure out which one you’re dealing with. Adult psychiatry by telehealth and a plan that accepts Aetna make starting easier than most people think.