Anxiety & panic disorders

What anxiety actually is

Most people use the word "anxiety" loosely — to describe nerves before an exam or worry about a job interview. That kind of anxiety is normal, and even useful. It's the body's way of preparing you for something that matters.

What we treat is different. Clinical anxiety is when that internal alarm system stops switching off. The worry doesn't match the situation. It shows up uninvited, lingers for weeks or months, and starts interfering with sleep, work, relationships, or simply being able to enjoy your day.

If you've ever tried to "just relax" and found that your body simply won't — your shoulders won't drop, your heart won't slow, your thoughts won't quiet — that's the experience anxiety disorders describe.

The forms it takes

Anxiety isn't one condition. At our Dehradun clinic, we commonly see several distinct presentations:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — persistent, all-purpose worry that drifts from one topic to another. Health, money, family, work, the future. The mind never quite gets a day off.
• Panic Disorder — sudden, intense surges of fear with strong physical symptoms: pounding heart, breathlessness, dizziness, a feeling of unreality or impending doom. Many patients first arrive at a cardiologist's office, certain they're having a heart attack.
• Social Anxiety — fear of being judged, watched, or evaluated by others. Common in students, professionals, and anyone whose work involves public-facing roles.
• Health Anxiety — repeated worry about having a serious illness, despite normal medical reports. Often worsened by Googling symptoms.
• Phobias — intense fear of specific things (heights, flights, injections, certain animals) that interferes with daily life.

What causes it

Anxiety usually has more than one root. Some people are biologically more sensitive to stress — that's not a weakness, just wiring. Others develop anxiety after specific life events: a difficult childhood, a traumatic loss, prolonged work stress, a major illness, or a brush with their own mortality.

Often, what brings someone to the clinic isn't a single trigger — it's the cumulative weight of months or years of unrelieved stress. The body finally signals that it's had enough. That signal arrives as anxiety.

The patients I see often say the same thing: "I don't even know what I'm anxious about anymore — I just feel anxious." That's the moment to come in. We don't need a clean reason. We start with what's happening in your body and mind right now.

How treatment actually works

Effective anxiety treatment is rarely a single tool. It's usually a combination, tailored to your specific situation.

1. Understanding your anxiety

Your first consultation is a thorough conversation — about your symptoms, sleep, lifestyle, family history, work, and what's been happening in your life. We may also rule out medical causes (thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, certain heart conditions) that can mimic anxiety.

2. Therapy approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has decades of evidence behind it for anxiety disorders. It works by identifying and gradually challenging the thought patterns that fuel anxiety. For panic disorder specifically, exposure-based techniques are highly effective.

3. Medication, when needed

Many patients improve with therapy and lifestyle changes alone. Others benefit from medication — usually SSRIs, which are not addictive and have decades of safety data. The decision is always made together, never imposed.

4. Lifestyle foundations

Sleep, exercise, caffeine intake, and breathing techniques all directly affect the nervous system. We work on these alongside any other treatment.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first appointment lasts 30–45 minutes. Dr. Bhandari will listen — without rushing — to what you're experiencing. You'll discuss the timeline, what makes it better or worse, and how it's affecting your life. By the end, you'll have a working diagnosis and a clear plan: what to try first, what to monitor, and when to come back.

You don't have to bring anything. You don't have to know the right words. You don't even have to be sure that what you're feeling is "really" anxiety. We'll work it out together.

When to seek help

You don't need to wait until things feel unbearable. Consider booking a consultation if:

• Anxiety has lasted more than a few weeks
• It's affecting your sleep, work, or relationships
• You've had panic attacks or unexplained physical symptoms
• You're avoiding things you used to enjoy
• You've started using alcohol or anything else to cope
• A friend or family member has expressed concern

Earlier intervention almost always means easier and faster recovery.