Anxiety Treatment
in Portland

Understanding Anxiety In Portland's Unique Environment 

Living in Portland presents unique stressors that can exacerbate anxiety symptoms and other mental health issues, which may help explain why Oregon consistently ranks among states with the highest mental health challenges nationally.

From Portland's notoriously gray winters—with sunlight visible only approximately 25 percent of the time during some parts of winter—to the fast-paced demands of the tech industry and creative economy, residents experience stressors that aren't always so obvious. Whether you're commuting along Burnside Street, managing a startup in the Central Eastside, or raising a family in neighborhoods like Irvington or Laurelhurst, these environmental factors can significantly impact your mental well-being.

Anxiety Is Often A Symptom Of A Deeper Underlying Problem

There are many causes of anxiety, and they aren't always easy to detect without the help of a trained professional. In some cases, people are genetically predisposed to anxiety because it runs in the family. In other cases, there are underlying mental health challenges like ADHD, OCD, or trauma.

Oftentimes, people are more likely to struggle with anxiety if their home life is turbulent or they work in a toxic or stressful environment, like some Portland professionals working in high-stress environments downtown or in the Lloyd District. Living with someone who's narcissistic or addicted to substances can also increase your chances of developing anxiety. This is particularly relevant given that 21.9% of Oregonians had a substance use disorder in 2021-2022, significantly higher than the national average of 17%.

On your own, it isn't always easy to figure out which factors are responsible for anxiety and which aren't. As a mental health therapist and psychiatrist with decades of experience treating anxiety, including experience as a first responder during 9/11, I am confident that I can help you get to the bottom of your symptoms and begin the journey toward healing and relief.

Comprehensive Anxiety Treatment Can Help You Relieve Your Stress And Improve Your Confidence 

Living with anxiety is grueling, painful, and limiting, but the good news is that it's highly treatable. With my experience in pharmacology and my specialized training in insight-oriented and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, I am able to help people find relief from social anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, and any other form of anxiety that's holding them back in life.

You and I will begin the recovery process on day one, performing a thorough evaluation of all the underlying factors contributing to your anxiety. Once the sources of your pain have been identified, we will devise a treatment plan for lowering your stress and managing your anxiety in day-to-day life.

This plan can include anti-anxiety medications, mindfulness activities, exposure therapy techniques, and various lifestyle changes tailored to Portland living. That might involve utilizing our extensive park system, like Forest Park or the Springwater Corridor, for stress-reducing outdoor activities.

In the beginning, we will meet roughly twice a week so that we have adequate time to address the roots of your anxiety and manage your anti-anxiety medications. As treatment continues, it's possible to meet on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis depending on your progress.

Tailoring My Approach To Anxiety Treatment In Northwest Portland

Treatment is always individualized depending on the severity of your symptoms, the underlying causes, and the specific type of anxiety disorder you're struggling with. Below are some of the main areas we'll focus on during our time together:

Diagnoses and medical testing—The first step is figuring out what form of anxiety disorder you have, where it came from, and why it persists. I'll perform an in-depth assessment of your symptoms and conduct medical testing to rule out different causes, and I'll also look for any co-occurring conditions (depression, ADHD, etc.).

Mindfulness activities—You will learn a wide range of practical strategies for reducing your stress and achieving relaxation in everyday life. These can include deep breathing, meditation, and visualization exercises that you can practice whether you're stuck in traffic on I-5 or waiting for the MAX train.

Exposure therapy techniques—I will help you learn to confront your fears and phobias in a safe and gradual manner. This way, you'll be able to deal with the sources of your anxiety without feeling the same intensity you felt during the original offending situation.

Medication management—Although medication is always optional, it can work wonders in stabilizing your mood and lowering your stress. Some of the medications recommended for anxiety include beta-blockers, anxiolytics, and even antidepressants.

Addressing Portland's Seasonal Mental Health Challenges

For many Portland residents, anxiety symptoms worsen during our long, gray winters. With approximately 10% of Pacific Northwest residents experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—twice the national average, I'll incorporate strategies to manage seasonal mood changes, including light therapy recommendations and vitamin D supplementation when appropriate. My practice understands the unique challenges of maintaining mental health through Portland's rainy season.

By addressing the mental, emotional, social, and physiological aspects of anxiety, I believe that we can develop a treatment plan that works for you. Many of my patients not only find relief through treatment, but also open themselves to new ways of living and interacting with others. I want you to experience the same thing.

You May Have Some Questions About Anxiety Treatment in Portland…

I have been anxious my whole life. Can life really get better?

Absolutely! Medication and therapy offer the best hope for change, enabling patients to achieve comprehensive healing and relief. It bears repeating that anxiety is highly treatable, even in severe cases, and with the right lifestyle changes and coping skills, it’s possible to unlearn the behaviors that have been fueling your lifelong struggle with anxiety.

Many of my Portland patients have found that combining treatment with our city's wellness resources—from yoga studios in the Alberta Arts District to meditation centers in Southeast Portland—enhances their recovery journey.

How long will anxiety treatment take?

Everyone’s timetable is different, and it’s important to be kind to yourself as you work toward healing. In general, meeting twice weekly and using medication can provide results almost immediately, but for a full recovery, 9 to 18 months is more standard. 

I’ve already tried therapy and it didn’t help. How will this be different? 

I believe and trust that I can help you because many patients with similar concerns have benefited from a thorough, in-depth assessment to identify all the issues at hand. We'll do a thorough evaluation of your medical history, family history, trauma history, and relationship history.

With my unique combination of medical training from Massachusetts General Hospital and Cornell-Columbia Presbyterian, plus my extensive experience treating diverse populations—from refugee camps to Manhattan's HIV centers—I bring a comprehensive perspective that many Portland therapists may not offer.

If you're interested, we can also explore the use of medication, which can be a game-changer, giving you the strength and stability to do the healing work of anxiety counseling.

Anxiety Does Not Have To Control Your Life in Portland

With the right help and support from Mary E. Theodore, MD, MPH, Psychiatry, you can release your stress, boost your confidence, and start living up to your full potential.

Whether you're a professional in the Pearl District, a student at Portland State University, or a family in the Woodstock neighborhood, anxiety treatment tailored to Portland's unique challenges can help you thrive. To learn more about my Northwest Portland practice and how anxiety treatment can help, you can fill out the contact form or call me at 646-593-2134.

From my Nob Hill office at 2250 NW Flanders St #310, I serve patients throughout greater Portland with convenient access from Northwest 23rd Avenue, Good Samaritan Hospital, and surrounding neighborhoods. I also provide care to patients in New York City through in-person and telehealth appointments.

*https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder