Anxiety disorders continue to be one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States.
About 19% of American adults report having at least one type of anxiety disorder in the past year, and over 31% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. This doesn’t even count the adults living with undiagnosed anxiety.
All of that equals millions of adults living with anxiety, but the good news is that treatment options have never been more effective, more personalized, or more accessible.
As we roll into 2026, Dr. Hadi Estakhri and the Allied Psychiatry & Mental Health team in Newport Beach, California, want to talk about the advancements in how we understand and treat anxiety.
Today, anxiety isn’t viewed simply as stress or a personality trait; it’s recognized as a complex mind-body condition influenced by neurochemistry, genetics, trauma, and lifestyle factors.
We now understand that symptoms like racing thoughts, irritability, fatigue, and sleep issues are rooted in real physiological changes, not personal weakness. There’s also a stronger emphasis on individualized care rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, thanks to better diagnostics and evidence-based treatments.
With this modern understanding, you have more options (and more hope!) than ever before. In that spirit, here’s what’s working now and what could help you reclaim your peace in 2026.
Medication remains a cornerstone of anxiety treatment, but the approach in 2026 is far more precise. Many people now benefit from pharmacogenomic testing, which analyzes how your body metabolizes different medications.
This allows our team to adjust your medications to your unique biology, which reduces the trial-and-error process that often frustrates people.
Modern options may include:
For many people, this personalized approach leads to faster relief and better long-term results.
Evidence-based therapy is still one of the most effective ways to treat anxiety, but new therapeutic approaches make treatment even more actionable. What’s leading the way in 2026:
This is still the gold standard for treating anxiety, panic, and phobias.
ACT helps you reduce avoidance behaviors and build resilience.
Exposure-based therapies are now more streamlined and supported with digital tools, so you feel empowered, not overwhelmed.
The bottom line is that therapy in 2026 is highly collaborative, flexible, and often supported by digital monitoring or guided worksheets between sessions.
Anxiety is influenced heavily by physiology, and today, lifestyle-based treatment plans are more data-driven than ever.
Dr. Estakhri often incorporates:
These aren’t extras. They help lower your baseline anxiety and improve your treatment outcomes.
If your anxiety hasn’t improved with traditional therapy or medication, you're not out of options. Our top innovative therapies include:
For people with treatment-resistant anxiety or co-occurring depression, ketamine therapy can rapidly relieve their symptoms. When paired with psychotherapy, many people often experience breakthroughs that previously felt unreachable.
Ketamine can help with several types of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. According to research, you may see an improvement in your baseline anxiety in as little as one hour.
TMS uses safe, noninvasive magnetic pulses to change patterns of brain activity linked to anxiety. Newer TMS protocols are shorter, more targeted, and more effective for generalized anxiety and panic symptoms.
Unlike ketamine therapy, you can drive yourself home after a TMS session and don’t have to miss any work or school.
The most effective anxiety management in 2026 isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personalized, integrated, and rooted in understanding your brain, body, history, and everyday stressors.
Dr. Hadi Estakhri’s approach combines:
The result? You get a treatment plan that fits your life and helps you feel like yourself again.
You don’t have to navigate anxiety alone. Whether your symptoms are new, persistent, or resistant to past treatment, the right plan can help you move forward. Call our office at 949-945-0927 or book an appointment online today to get started.
