A Holistic Guide to Understanding and Treating Anxiety: What Really Works
Understanding Anxiety: A Holistic Approach to Healing
If you’ve landed here, chances are anxiety is interfering with your life in ways that feel overwhelming, exhausting, or even hopeless. But here's the truth: you’re not broken—and you don’t have to keep doing this alone.
In my practice, I work with people who’ve “tried everything” but still feel stuck. People who can’t fall asleep, can’t stop overthinking, avoid social situations, feel physically sick with worry, or keep asking themselves, "Why can’t I just be normal?" The truth is, anxiety is not a character flaw. It’s a complex interplay of brain chemistry, life experience, trauma, biology, and more—and we treat it as such.
We take a whole-person approach to healing because true healing means getting to the root of what's going on, not just masking symptoms. Whether it’s a nutrient deficiency, unprocessed trauma, hormonal imbalance, or years of chronic stress, we look at everything: labs, lifestyle, thoughts, habits, and environment. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” here.
Let’s walk through what anxiety is, how we approach it, and what to expect when we begin working together.
Common Approaches to Overcoming Anxiety
There are many different paths to healing—each one valid, and none of them perfect on their own. You may need a mix of strategies, and that’s okay. Anxiety recovery often requires a toolbox, not a single solution.
Here are a few of the most evidence-based approaches:
Medication (SSRI/SNRI, buspirone, hydroxyzine, beta blockers, and in some cases, short-term benzos)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding
Journaling and thought-challenging
Exercise/movement
Improved nutrition & blood sugar regulation
Supplements (when labs indicate a need)
Sleep hygiene and daily routine
Psychoeducation—understanding what anxiety is and how it works in the brain
You don’t have to do all of these at once. We’ll collaborate on what makes sense for you, at your pace, with your goals in mind.
Do Medications and Therapy Work?
Yes—and often, the most powerful results happen when they're used together, along with lifestyle changes. For many people, medication can help break the cycle and create the capacity to engage in therapy, get out of the house, follow a healthy routine, and participate in life again.
Here’s the thing: You can’t journal your way out of a panic attack when your nervous system is dysregulated and you haven’t slept in three days. You can’t benefit from therapy if your brain is so flooded with fear you can’t think clearly. That’s where medication can help.
But we don’t want to rely on medication alone. If we don’t develop coping skills, identify root causes, or change the way we respond to stress, then what happens when the meds are stopped, or when life throws the next curveball?
That’s why we focus on long-term resilience. Medication can be temporary. It can be permanent. There’s no right or wrong. The goal is not dependency, but empowerment. What coping skills have you learned? What routines are helping? What triggers do you now recognize and manage with confidence?
Healing happens when you start to feel in control of your life again.
Our Holistic, Root-Cause-Informed Approach
You’re not just a diagnosis. You’re a whole human being—and your treatment should reflect that.
In our practice, we explore:
Medical contributors: Is anxiety being driven by a thyroid imbalance, inflammation, low iron, or hormonal changes?
Lifestyle barriers: Are you eating regularly? Do you feel rested in the morning? Are you moving your body in nourishing ways?
Nutrient status: Do you have the foundational building blocks your brain needs to produce serotonin, dopamine, GABA?
Sleep and circadian health**
The role of trauma, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and chronic stress
We don’t reach for medication right away. But if you’ve already tried all the natural and lifestyle-based tools and still feel stuck, it may be time to consider medication as part of your plan. Not as a failure but as a smart, supportive bridge.
What to Expect from Professional Sessions
Working with a psychiatric nurse practitioner is different than a quick visit to a primary care provider or a script from urgent care. Here, you get time, education, and partnership.
We look beyond the surface and explore the deeper “why.” Each session is built around your goals, your history, and your whole-body health.
Initial Consultation
Our first visit is about connection, understanding, and assessment. We’ll cover:
Your full mental health and medical history
Lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, movement, stress
Past treatments—what worked, what didn’t
Your goals and fears around medication or therapy
Lab work recommendations if relevant
You'll leave with a collaborative care plan that may include follow-up labs, therapeutic tools, supplements, therapy referrals, or medication options.
How Sessions Unfold
Follow-ups are tailored to how you're progressing. We’ll:
Adjust medications if used (always thoughtfully and safely)
Evaluate supplement effectiveness
Continue exploring coping skills and psychoeducation
Tweak your routine, sleep, diet, and movement practices
Process barriers or resistance gently and collaboratively
You won’t feel rushed or dismissed. This is a safe space to explore what’s really going on and move forward with clarity.
How Professional Support Helps Manage Intense Emotions
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the emotional rollercoaster that anxiety brings. You may cry easily, snap at loved ones, spiral into self-doubt, or feel paralyzed by fear. This isn’t weakness, it’s dysregulation.
Working with a mental health professional helps you:
Understand the ‘why’ behind your emotional reactions
Identify and manage triggers
Learn grounding techniques and self-soothing strategies
Develop tools for distress tolerance
Build a sense of internal safety and self-trust
Rewire patterns of thought and behavior that keep anxiety in place
Long-Term Impact on Emotional Well-Being
The goal isn’t to “never feel anxious again.” The goal is:
To recognize your symptoms early
To understand your body’s signals
To respond instead of react
To recover faster and with more grace
To feel confident, capable, and clear
With consistent, compassionate care and a toolkit that’s been customized for you, you can build lasting emotional resilience. You don’t have to live in survival mode forever.
Final Thoughts
Healing takes time, curiosity, and the right support. If you’ve been fighting this on your own, know this: you don’t have to anymore. Let’s build a plan that works for your brain, your body, and your life.
At The Psych NP, we offer compassionate, holistic psychiatric care for anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and more. Our virtual practice is based in San Diego and proudly serves individuals across all of California. Whether you're exploring therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of approaches, we’re here to guide you with personalized support that gets to the root of your symptoms, not just the surface.
If you’re ready to feel like yourself again, let’s work together to create a plan that works for you.