Everyone feels anxious sometimes. Anxiety becomes a disorder when worry, fear or panic is persistent, out of proportion to the situation and interferes with work, relationships or daily functioning. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the United States, and they are highly treatable. The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services provides outpatient mental health treatment for anxiety disorders – with or without co-occurring substance use – at our Outpatient Center in Lancaster, PA.
Types of anxiety disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – chronic, excessive worry about many areas of life, often with restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, irritability and trouble sleeping.
- Panic disorder – recurrent panic attacks: sudden surges of intense fear with a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness or a feeling of losing control, followed by fear of the next attack.
- Social anxiety disorder – intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social or performance situations, leading to avoidance.
- Specific phobias – overwhelming fear of a particular object or situation.
- Agoraphobia – fear of situations where escape might be difficult, sometimes leading people to avoid leaving home.
- Separation anxiety and other anxiety-related conditions, including anxiety that develops alongside depression, trauma or substance use.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders
Anxiety shows up in the mind and the body. Emotional and cognitive symptoms include persistent worry, dread, difficulty concentrating, irritability, catastrophic thinking and a sense that something terrible is about to happen. Physical symptoms include a racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, muscle tension, headaches and insomnia. Many people first seek help for the physical symptoms, only to learn the cause is anxiety.
What causes anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders result from a mix of genetics, brain chemistry, temperament, life experiences and ongoing stress. Trauma, chronic illness, major life changes and a family history of anxiety or depression all raise risk. Substances can cause or worsen anxiety: alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants and cannabis each affect the brain’s stress systems, and withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can produce severe anxiety and panic.
Anxiety and substance use
Roughly one in five people with an anxiety disorder also struggles with substance use, and the two conditions feed each other. Drinking or using to quiet anxiety works briefly, then rebounds worse, driving more use. Treatment that addresses only one condition tends to fail. Our programs treat anxiety and addiction together, and clients who do not use substances receive dedicated mental health care.
Treatment for anxiety disorders
Levels of care
- Inpatient or residential psychiatric care – for people who are in crisis or need 24-hour supervision to stay safe.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP) – full-day psychiatric and therapeutic care five days a week at our Lancaster Outpatient Center, with supportive housing available. Most clients complete PHP in 8–12 weeks.
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP) – three-hour group sessions three days a week while you live at home, typically for 5–6 weeks.
- Outpatient therapy and medication management – ongoing weekly care after you complete a structured program.
Evidence-based therapies
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for anxiety: it teaches you to identify anxious thought patterns, test them against reality and change the behaviors that keep anxiety going. Exposure-based approaches gradually reduce fear of avoided situations. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) builds distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills, and mindfulness practices calm the nervous system. Psychiatric providers at The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services can also prescribe medications such as SSRIs and SNRIs, which are effective and non-habit-forming, and help clients taper off benzodiazepines when appropriate.
Learn more about anxiety treatment in Pennsylvania at our Lancaster programs.
Frequently asked questions
When does anxiety need professional treatment?
If worry, fear or panic is affecting your sleep, work, relationships or ability to leave the house, or if you are using alcohol or drugs to cope, it is time to talk with a professional. You do not have to be in crisis to deserve help.
What is the difference between IOP and PHP for anxiety?
PHP is a full-day program five days a week with psychiatric care and daily therapy, for people whose symptoms are significantly disrupting life. IOP meets for three-hour groups three days a week and suits people who are more stable and can live at home.
Can anxiety be treated without medication?
Yes. Many people improve substantially with CBT and skills-based therapy alone. When medication is helpful, our psychiatric team focuses on non-addictive options.
Get Help for Anxiety Disorders in Lancaster, PA
The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services offers partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for anxiety disorders at our Outpatient Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with supportive housing available at our Outpatient Residence for clients in PHP. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer questions, verify your insurance and help you decide on the right level of care. All calls are free and confidential.
