Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is not a character flaw or something you should be able to think your way out of. It is a nervous system stuck in protection mode — and it is highly treatable. Willow & Stone is led by Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with nearly two decades of experience. We treat anxiety with an integrative, root-cause approach: evidence-based medication when it helps, alongside functional lab testing, thyroid and hormone evaluation, blood-sugar and nutrient review, sleep support, and nervous-system regulation.
Signs and symptoms
Anxiety looks different in everyone, and it is often physical before it is emotional. You may recognize:
- ✓Persistent worry that is hard to switch off, even when things are fine
- ✓Racing heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or dizziness
- ✓Muscle tension, jaw clenching, headaches, or stomach trouble
- ✓Trouble falling asleep because your mind will not stop
- ✓Panic attacks that arrive without an obvious trigger
- ✓Avoiding places, people, or situations to keep the anxiety down
- ✓Feeling wired and exhausted at the same time
Our integrative approach
Anxiety is frequently driven or amplified by something physical that a 15-minute visit never uncovers. Before we settle on a medication plan, we look at what your body is doing:
Thyroid & hormones
An overactive thyroid, perimenopause, and cortisol dysregulation all produce textbook anxiety symptoms — and are directly treatable.
Blood sugar & nutrition
Blood-sugar swings, low magnesium, B12, iron, and vitamin D reliably worsen anxiety and panic. We test rather than guess.
Nervous system regulation
Practical, evidence-based tools to bring a hypervigilant nervous system back down — not just breathing exercises.
Medication, when it helps
Thoughtful, individualized options — including non-habit-forming choices — chosen with your goals and history in mind.
If you need help right now
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, you deserve immediate support. Call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. Reach out to us afterward and we will help you from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is anxiety treatable without medication?
Often, yes — and for many patients it is a combination. We start by looking for physical contributors like thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, blood-sugar instability, and sleep disruption, because treating those can substantially reduce anxiety on its own. If medication would help, we discuss it openly, including non-habit-forming options, and the decision is always yours.
What is the difference between anxiety and a panic attack?
Anxiety is usually a persistent state of worry and physical tension. A panic attack is an intense surge that peaks within minutes — racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, a sense of doom — and often feels like a medical emergency. Both are treatable, and panic attacks in particular respond well to a combination of medical evaluation and nervous-system work.
Can a physical health problem cause anxiety?
Yes, and it is more common than most people realize. Thyroid disorders, anemia, vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency, blood-sugar swings, hormonal shifts, sleep apnea, and inflammation can all produce genuine anxiety symptoms. This is exactly why our evaluation includes functional lab review rather than symptoms alone.
Do you treat anxiety by telehealth?
Yes. We see patients by secure telehealth across Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida. In-person visits are available in the Fort Worth–Arlington area.
How long does it take to feel better?
It depends on what is driving your anxiety. Some patients notice meaningful change within a few weeks — particularly when a treatable physical contributor is found and addressed. Others need a longer runway to adjust medication and build nervous-system skills. We set realistic expectations at your first visit rather than promising a timeline we cannot back up.
Your healing begins with a conversation.
Start with a cash-pay telehealth consultation — no insurance, no prior authorizations, no waitlists.
Schedule Your ConsultationOr call (682) 240-0417