Generalized anxiety disorder is chronic, excessive worry lasting six months or more with physical symptoms such as tension, restlessness and poor sleep. It is treated with SSRIs or SNRIs, cognitive behavioral therapy, or both, with buspirone and hydroxyzine as alternatives. Most people improve substantially within 8 to 12 weeks, and treatment is available in person or by telehealth. Stedfast Psychiatry treats generalized anxiety disorder at 6300 North Wickham Road in Melbourne and by video across Florida; new patients call (561) 295-8859.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder at our Melbourne office
For generalized anxiety disorder treatment, residents of Viera, Viera West, Viera East and Pineda Crossing and Rockledge, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach are usually within a short drive. The office is on North Wickham Road in the Suntree area, between the Pineda Causeway and Viera.
Free surface parking is available in front of the building, with accessible spaces near the entrance. Suite 110 is on the ground floor. Arrive a few minutes early during school drop-off and pick-up hours, when Wickham Road traffic is heaviest. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with weekend appointments by arrangement. New patients call (561) 295-8859; existing patients use (321) 977-5669.
The Melbourne office is an entry point to Stedfast Psychiatry's Deep TMS and Spravato programs. Treatment sessions run at our Palm Beach Gardens TMS center and the Palm Beach Gardens Spravato rooms, roughly 120 and 120 minutes away; the evaluation, the screening scales and the prior authorization all happen here.
Who you will see in Melbourne
The Melbourne team includes psychiatric nurse practitioners Alexandra Renninger, Hannah Sobas and Merlande Vance. Visits in Creole are available with Merlande Vance. Children and teens are seen by Merlande Vance and Megan Benda.
Alexandra Renninger, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Adults 18+
Hannah Sobas, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Adults 18 to 64
Merlande Vance, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Children 6+, teens and adults · English, Creole
Kindal Sweet
Clinician · Adults 18+; 14 to 17 on request
Megan Benda
Clinician · Adults and teens 14+; 13 on request
Signs of generalized anxiety disorder
- Excessive worry about several things most days for at least six months
- Difficulty controlling or stopping the worry
- Restlessness or feeling keyed up and on edge
- Muscle tension, headaches or jaw clenching
- Fatigue that is out of proportion to activity
- Trouble concentrating or mind going blank
- Irritability
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
How we diagnose it
We diagnose GAD through a structured psychiatric interview that maps what you worry about, how long it has been going on, how much control you have over it, and the physical symptoms that come with it. We use the GAD-7 scale at the first visit and every follow-up to track severity. Because anxiety rarely travels alone, we screen for depression (PHQ-9), panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD, PTSD and ADHD, each of which changes the treatment plan. We review caffeine, alcohol, cannabis and stimulant use and all current medications. When indicated we order thyroid function tests, a complete blood count and a metabolic panel, and we may ask your primary care provider for an EKG if palpitations are a prominent symptom.
Generalized anxiety disorder affects an estimated 2.7 percent of US adults in a given year and 5.7 percent at some point in their lives.
Source: NIMH, National Comorbidity Survey Replication
Anxiety disorders as a group are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 19.1 percent of adults each year.
Source: NIMH
Women are about twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with GAD.
Source: American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5-TR
Cognitive behavioral therapy produces clinically meaningful improvement in roughly half to two thirds of GAD patients, comparable to medication.
Source: Meta-analyses summarized by the American Psychological Association
Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder in Melbourne
Medication management
SSRIs (escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine) and SNRIs (venlafaxine XR, duloxetine) are first-line for GAD and are FDA-approved for it. We start low because people with anxiety are sensitive to early side effects, and increase over two to four weeks. Physical symptoms and sleep often improve first; the worry itself usually eases by week four to eight, with full effect by twelve weeks. Buspirone is a non-sedating option that can be used alone or added to an SSRI. Hydroxyzine helps with short-term relief and sleep without dependence. Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam or clonazepam work quickly but carry tolerance and dependence risk, so we use them sparingly, for short periods or for a bridge while an SSRI takes effect. We monitor blood pressure on SNRIs and check in on side effects at two and six weeks.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy for GAD targets intolerance of uncertainty, worry as a (false) problem-solving strategy, and avoidance. Typical treatment is 12 to 16 weekly sessions. Techniques include worry scheduling, cognitive restructuring, applied relaxation, and exposure to uncertainty. Acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based approaches also have good evidence. For many patients, therapy alone is sufficient; for moderate to severe GAD, combining it with medication produces the best and most durable results.
What to expect
At your first appointment, in person or by video, you will complete the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, then spend 45 to 60 minutes with a psychiatric provider reviewing your history and symptoms. You leave with a diagnosis, a plan, and a prescription if medication is part of it. Follow-ups are at two to four weeks during dose adjustment, then every two to three months. Telehealth works well for GAD and most patients do the majority of their follow-ups by video from home or work anywhere in Florida or South Carolina.
The complete guide, including causes, subtypes and research, is on our Generalized Anxiety Disorder page.
Emergency and crisis resources near Melbourne
In an emergency, call 911 or go to Health First Viera Hospital Emergency Department (8745 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne). The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text 24 hours a day. Holmes Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are also listed on the Melbourne office page.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides generalized anxiety disorder treatment at the Melbourne office?
The Melbourne team includes psychiatric nurse practitioners Alexandra Renninger, Hannah Sobas and Merlande Vance. Visits in Creole are available with Merlande Vance. Every provider works under psychiatrist oversight and the same evaluation standard: about an hour for a first visit, validated screening scales, and a written plan.
Can I be seen by video instead of coming to Melbourne?
Yes. Stedfast Psychiatry providers are licensed in Florida and offer video visits for evaluations and follow-ups. Some situations, including certain controlled-substance prescriptions and first visits for young children, require an in-person appointment at 6300 North Wickham Road.
Does the Melbourne office take my insurance?
We accept most major commercial plans and Medicare. Call (561) 295-8859 with your member ID and we will verify benefits before the visit. Self-pay new-patient evaluations are $185.
How soon can a new patient be seen in Melbourne?
Most new patients are scheduled within one to two weeks. If you need to be seen sooner, ask about a video visit; those often open up within days. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting.
Can I get Deep TMS or Spravato as a Melbourne patient?
Yes. Stedfast Psychiatry is licensed for both. Your Melbourne provider does the evaluation and the prior authorization; treatment sessions are scheduled at our Palm Beach Gardens TMS center and the Palm Beach Gardens Spravato rooms.
What is the best medication for generalized anxiety disorder?
There is no single best medication, but escitalopram, sertraline, venlafaxine XR and duloxetine are the most commonly used first-line options and have the strongest evidence. Buspirone is a good non-sedating alternative or add-on. Hydroxyzine can be used as needed. The right choice depends on your other symptoms, side-effect sensitivity, other medications and whether depression is also present. We expect to find the right fit within one or two trials.
Are benzodiazepines like Xanax a good treatment for GAD?
They relieve anxiety within an hour, which is why patients like them, but they lose effect with daily use, cause dependence, impair memory and driving, and are dangerous combined with alcohol or opioids. We use them for short-term relief, for a few weeks while an SSRI starts working, or occasionally for specific situations. They are not a long-term treatment for GAD, and telehealth prescribing of controlled substances has additional requirements.
Nearby Stedfast offices
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. Educational content; individual results vary. Reviewed by Dr. David Husted, board-certified psychiatrist.