What does anxiety feel like in the body?
The clinic’s anxiety page describes excessive worry, restlessness, irritability and difficulty concentrating, with physical symptoms such as muscle tension and fatigue. It names generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder among the forms anxiety takes. A clinic post on the anxiety loop adds sleep difficulties to the general symptoms. It also lists what can happen during panic: a racing heart with sweating and trembling, fear of dying or losing control, chest pain, hot flushes, numbness, nausea and shortness of breath.
Physical symptoms deserve a physical check. The post’s first rule is to see a physician, who can run a physical examination and blood tests to find out whether something like an overactive thyroid plays a part. If the tests come back clear, treatment can focus on the psychological side.
Why does avoiding what scares you keep anxiety going?
Avoidance feels like relief. The post says the situations return in the long run, even when a person avoids them for a while. It gives two reasons: the person gains no positive experience of coping, and the sense of helplessness stays. The post also describes a feeling the brain gets used to, which then becomes frequent over time as triggers overlap.
A related point about thinking appears on the CBT page. Patterns which once helped you cope can quietly fuel anxiety, low mood, stress or self-doubt later, and CBT brings awareness to the pattern and teaches practical ways to respond differently. The anxiety page also lists exposure therapy among its treatments and says it helps with OCD and specific phobias. A clinician decides whether and how to use it for you.
What happens when you book a consultation?
The anxiety page says you can schedule with one of the clinic’s psychiatrists or psychologists. A clinician listens, makes a diagnosis and suggests treatment options for you to choose from. No booking commits you to medication or therapy. The page directs anyone under 18 to the child psychiatrist.
Per the clinic’s FAQ, the first appointment can end in a follow-up, a referral to a colleague or recommendations. You do not need to prepare.
When does medication come into it?
The anxiety page says treatment varies with severity, needs and preferences. Options include antidepressants, CBT, exposure therapy and lifestyle changes such as exercise, relaxation techniques and healthy sleep habits. A psychologist provides therapy and assessment and cannot prescribe, so medication runs through a psychiatrist. Some insurers also ask for a psychiatrist consultation before referring you to a therapist.
A fair rule of thumb follows from the clinic’s wording. If you want to try therapy first, start with a psychologist, because many people manage anxiety without medication. To know every option, start with a psychiatrist, because seeing one does not mean you will end up on medication. Either route leads to the same clinic.
Book a consultation about anxiety
Read the clinic’s anxiety and OCD treatment page, then email info@thevalensclinic.ae to book with a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist. Every Valens clinician holds a licence from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the Community Development Authority (CDA).