I’ve specialized in treating anxiety disorders in private practice for over 25 years. My approach combines medication management, talk therapy, and evidence-based wellness strategies — including mindfulness work — shaped to fit what each person is actually dealing with. The improvements I see in patients’ daily lives, relationships, and work are what keep me doing this.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Everyone worries — that’s normal. But when anxiety becomes persistent, disproportionate to the situation, and starts making daily life genuinely difficult, it crosses into clinical territory. I’ve been treating anxiety disorders for over two decades. Here are the conditions I see most often:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Persistent, excessive worry about everyday matters accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social situations. Can severely limit work performance, relationships, and quality of life.
Panic Disorder
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks — surges of intense fear with physical symptoms like racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Often leads to fear of future attacks.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder following exposure to traumatic events. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and avoidance of reminders.
OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety. Often misunderstood and underdiagnosed.
Health & Specific Anxiety
Health anxiety (illness anxiety disorder), specific phobias, and agoraphobia are also common. Each requires careful diagnosis to distinguish from related medical or psychiatric conditions.
Treatment Approaches
Anxiety responds well to treatment — but the right approach depends on which type of anxiety you have and what’s driving it. Here’s how I think about it:
Medication Management
SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, and other evidence-based medications can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. When appropriate, short-term benzodiazepine use may be considered with careful monitoring.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the gold-standard psychotherapy for anxiety. Dr. Brendel coordinates with skilled therapists when intensive CBT work is indicated, ensuring patients receive a fully integrated treatment plan.
Mindfulness & Wellness Strategies
Mindfulness-based practices, stress reduction techniques, sleep hygiene, and lifestyle modifications can play a powerful role in managing anxiety symptoms alongside clinical treatment.
Integrated Long-term Care
For patients with chronic or treatment-resistant anxiety, Dr. Brendel stays closely involved over time — revisiting the treatment plan as needed and adjusting as your situation evolves.
I’m Dr. David Brendel, MD, PhD — a Harvard-trained, board-certified private psychiatrist in Belmont, MA, a short drive from Boston and Cambridge. Anxiety disorders have been central to my work for over 25 years. If you or a loved one is struggling, please reach out. You can book an appointment online via ZocDoc, call (617) 932-1548, or email David@DrDavidBrendel.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have an anxiety disorder or just normal worry?
Normal anxiety is a proportionate response to real stressors that passes once the stressor resolves. An anxiety disorder involves anxiety that is excessive, difficult to control, lasts weeks or months, and interferes with work, relationships, or daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric evaluation is the best way to clarify the diagnosis.
What medications are used to treat anxiety?
SSRIs (such as sertraline and escitalopram) and SNRIs (such as venlafaxine) are first-line medications for most anxiety disorders. Buspirone, beta-blockers, and sometimes low-dose benzodiazepines may also be used depending on the specific condition and patient needs.
Is therapy or medication better for anxiety?
Research shows that for most anxiety disorders, the combination of medication and CBT is more effective than either alone. In my experience, the combination usually works better than either alone — but the right balance depends on which type of anxiety you have, how you’ve responded before, and what you’re actually willing to try.
How long does anxiety treatment take?
It depends on the type and severity of anxiety. Many patients experience significant improvement within 4–8 weeks of starting medication. Some complete a course of treatment in a few months; others benefit from longer-term management. I adjust based on how you’re responding — there’s no fixed schedule that works for everyone.
Can anxiety disorders be cured?
Many people achieve complete remission of anxiety symptoms with the right treatment. Others achieve substantial relief that allows them to function well and enjoy a high quality of life. Early, accurate diagnosis makes a real difference. Many patients I’ve seen who had struggled for years made significant progress once they got the right diagnosis and a plan that actually fit.
Do I need a referral to see Dr. Brendel for anxiety?
No referral is needed. You can book directly via ZocDoc, call the office, or send an email. Dr. Brendel is currently accepting new patients for anxiety evaluation and treatment.
Why Choose Dr. Brendel for Anxiety Treatment?
Dr. David Brendel has treated anxiety disorders for over 25 years in the Greater Boston area. A few things that set his practice apart:
- 25+ years specializing in anxiety, including GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, and OCD
- Harvard-trained with an MD and PhD; board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Precise medication management across the full range of anxiety treatments: SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, and others, calibrated to what each person needs
- Integrates medication with therapy referrals, mindfulness strategies, and lifestyle changes — not just prescriptions
- Careful diagnostic work: distinguishes anxiety from depression, ADHD, thyroid disorders, and other conditions that can look similar or co-occur
- Author of Healing Psychiatry (MIT Press) — a rigorous academic background applied to individualized care
- Located in Belmont, MA, serving Greater Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding communities
- Accepting new patients — book online via ZocDoc or call (617) 932-1548
Most people with anxiety don’t come to a psychiatrist right away. They manage it themselves for a while — avoiding situations that set it off, finding other ways to cope, pushing through. Eventually, when that stops working, they seek help. Some get better quickly with the right treatment. Others spend months on something that isn’t quite right for their specific type of anxiety — because the diagnosis was incomplete or the medication wasn’t well chosen.
I start by listening carefully. I want to understand not just your symptoms but where your anxiety comes from, what sets it off, how it’s affecting your daily life, and what you’ve already tried. That context is what allows me to recommend something that actually fits — rather than just reaching for the standard first-line medication and hoping for the best.
Whether this is your first time seeking help or you’ve been struggling with anxiety for years, I’d be glad to meet with you.
Accepting New Patients for Anxiety Treatment
Dr. Brendel sees patients at his private practice in Belmont, MA, a short drive from Boston and Cambridge. If you’ve been managing anxiety on your own and it’s stopped working, an evaluation is usually the right first step.