Indore, MP
Anxiety disorders go far beyond everyday worry. When fear and tension become constant companions that interfere with your daily life, professional treatment can make a real difference. You do not have to manage this alone.
Recognising the Signs
If you experience any of the following, talk to a professional.
Immediate support
Many people in India grow up being told they are 'just anxious' or 'overthinking'. This framing is harmful because it normalises a medical condition and delays treatment. Anxiety disorders involve measurable changes in brain chemistry and function, they are as real and treatable as diabetes or asthma. You do not have to live with it.
Understanding the difference
| Feature | Normal Worry | Anxiety Disorder |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Comes and goes, resolves naturally | Persists for months, often daily |
| Proportion | Matched to the actual situation | Disproportionate or excessive |
| Control | Can be set aside or managed | Feels uncontrollable |
| Physical symptoms | Mild, brief | Intense, racing heart, sweating, trembling, chest pain |
| Functioning | Daily life continues normally | Interferes with work, relationships, or daily tasks |
About this Condition
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions treated by psychiatrists in Indore, and among the most undertreated. Many people live with chronic worry, panic attacks, or social fear for years, believing it is just their personality or something they should be able to control on their own. That belief keeps people stuck. If you think you might be affected, you can start with the GAD-7 screening.
In India, the National Mental Health Survey (NIMHANS, 2015-16) estimated that over 30 million people live with anxiety disorders. The treatment gap is enormous, most never receive professional help, held back by stigma, the misconception that anxiety is not a real medical condition, or the belief that medication means weakness. In Madhya Pradesh specifically, access to mental health services remains limited outside major cities.
Anxiety disorders come in several forms, and accurate diagnosis matters because treatment differs for each type.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves persistent, excessive worry about everyday things, health, work, family, finances, that feels impossible to control. The worry is often disproportionate to the actual situation, and it occurs on most days for at least six months. Physical symptoms are common: muscle tension, fatigue, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.
Panic Disorder brings sudden, intense episodes of fear (panic attacks) that peak within minutes. During an attack, you may experience a racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and a feeling of losing control or dying. The fear of having another attack can itself become debilitating, leading to avoidance of places or situations where attacks have occurred.
Social Anxiety Disorder involves intense fear of social situations where you might be judged, embarrassed, or scrutinised. This goes far beyond shyness. People with social anxiety may avoid job interviews, parties, meetings, phone calls, or even eating in public. The fear is persistent and causes significant distress or functional impairment.
Specific Phobias are intense, irrational fears of particular objects or situations, flying, heights, medical procedures, enclosed spaces, animals. The fear is recognised as excessive, but the person cannot control it and goes to great lengths to avoid the trigger.
Physical symptoms of anxiety are not imaginary. They are real physiological responses, the body's fight-or-flight system activating when there is no actual danger. Over time, chronic anxiety can contribute to headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, and increased risk of depression. Many patients who come to the clinic have already seen cardiologists, gastroenterologists, and ENT specialists for physical symptoms that turned out to be anxiety-driven.
Understanding the roots
Imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, GABA, and norepinephrine are directly involved in anxiety. These are measurable biological differences, not personality flaws.
Anxiety disorders run in families. Having a first-degree relative with an anxiety disorder increases your risk significantly. This is biology, not weakness.
Trauma, chronic stress, major life changes, or ongoing difficult circumstances can trigger or worsen anxiety, even in people with no prior history.
Thyroid disorders, cardiac conditions, and certain medications can mimic or worsen anxiety symptoms. Part of the evaluation is ruling these out.
Clinical Profile
These are the most commonly reported signs.
By the numbers
Affected in India
~30M+
Indians live with anxiety disorders
Source: NIMHANS Mental Health Survey, 2015-16
Treatment Response
60-80%
of patients improve significantly with proper treatment
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
Treatment Gap
~80%
of people with anxiety in India receive no treatment
Source: Lancet Psychiatry, 2019
Outcomes
Before Your Visit
Knowing what to expect can ease the anxiety of your first appointment.
The Process
A clear path from your first visit to feeling better.
A thorough 45-60 minute consultation covering your specific anxiety symptoms, their duration, triggers, and impact on your daily life. I screen for co-occurring conditions and rules out medical causes.
Based on your evaluation, a tailored plan is created, this may include CBT-based therapy, medication, exposure techniques, or a combination, depending on the type and severity of your anxiety.
Most patients begin noticing improvement within 2-4 weeks. Regular check-ins (every 2-4 weeks) ensure your treatment is on track, side effects are managed, and adjustments are made promptly.
Once symptoms improve, the focus shifts to maintaining gains, building independent coping skills, and planning for the long term, including gradual medication tapering when appropriate.
Our Method
The first appointment is a thorough 45-60 minute evaluation. I explore your specific symptoms, how long they have been present, what triggers them, and how they affect your daily life. He screens for co-occurring conditions like [depression](/psychiatry/depression) or [OCD](/psychiatry/ocd), which frequently occur alongside anxiety.
Based on the evaluation, a personalised treatment plan is developed. For most anxiety disorders, the first-line treatment combines medication with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT for anxiety is highly structured, it teaches you to identify distorted thought patterns, challenge them with evidence, and gradually face feared situations through exposure techniques.
Medication selection depends on the type and severity of anxiety. SSRIs (such as escitalopram or sertraline) are the most commonly prescribed first-line medications because they are effective and non-addictive. SNRIs (like venlafaxine) are another option. For panic disorder specifically, I may use interoceptive exposure, a technique where you learn to tolerate the physical sensations of panic without fear.
Benzodiazepines may be used short-term for severe, acute anxiety, but I prescribe them cautiously due to dependence risk. The goal is always to move towards sustainable, non-addictive treatment.
Regular follow-ups, initially every 2-4 weeks, ensure the plan is adjusted as you improve. Over time, the focus shifts from medication to maintaining gains through the coping skills you have developed. Many patients eventually reduce or discontinue medication once they have strong enough strategies in place.
Questions
Your Doctor

I have extensive experience treating all forms of anxiety, from mild GAD to severe panic disorder with agoraphobia. I combine evidence-based medication with structured therapy, and adjusts the approach based on how you respond. My clinic is based in Indore and sees patients from across Madhya Pradesh, both in person and online.
Learn more about Dr RajvardhanExplore
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