Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F41.1
- Who treats you
- a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist working from a single plan
- Format
- video consultations, plus short follow-up check-ins when needed
- Duration
- initial appointment about an hour; a CBT course is usually 10–16 sessions
- Confidentiality
- you can reach out without your full name; your data is protected by medical confidentiality
- When it’s urgent
- anxiety with thoughts of death, or chest pain of unclear cause — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- less anxiety, normal sleep and skills for managing worry
What you should know
For an anxious person, even deciding to make a phone call is hard, so you can start with a message. You write on WhatsApp that for months you’ve lived in constant tension, replaying worst-case scenarios and sleeping badly. The administrator finds a time and sends you a link. A few hours later you’re talking to a psychiatrist from your own room rather than a noisy clinic, without spending energy on a drive through congested Almaty, which in itself can make the worry worse.
Generalized anxiety wears you down without you noticing: you’re always expecting the worst, double-checking and playing it safe, while your body lives in alarm mode — with tense muscles, a racing heart and stomach problems. Many people go from doctor to doctor for years with individual symptoms until someone suggests looking at the whole picture. That’s exactly where a Psychiatry Online specialist begins: taking a history, distinguishing anxiety disorder from other conditions and offering a plan that works.
Signs of an Anxiety Disorder
- almost every day you worry about many things and can’t stop the thoughts
- the anxiety lasts for months and gets in the way of work, rest and relationships
- your muscles are constantly tense; your neck, shoulders and jaw ache
- it’s hard to fall asleep because your mind keeps replaying problems
- irritability and a sense of being on edge all the time
- frequent complaints of a pounding heart, stomach discomfort and sweating
- you avoid news, calls or decisions so as not to make the anxiety worse
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Why Anxiety Disorder Develops
Generalized anxiety disorder involves hereditary predisposition, temperament and the way the body’s stress-regulating systems work. A tendency to worry is often noticeable from childhood. Beliefs learned in the family also matter: the idea that the world is dangerous and control is the only way to stay safe. None of this is the person’s fault — it’s a combination of factors that can be worked on.
Anxiety is triggered and sustained by long-term stress: financial uncertainty, illness in the family, instability at work and a constant sense of rush. Almaty’s big-city pace — daily traffic jams, a flood of information and the habit of being reachable around the clock — doesn’t let the nervous system rest. Caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol as a way to relax and lack of sleep make things worse, so they’re always discussed at the appointment.
How an Online Appointment for Anxiety Works
You join via a link from a calm place where you feel safe — for anxious patients, this often makes the first conversation easier. The psychiatrist asks how long you’ve been worrying and about what, as well as about your sleep, physical symptoms, coffee and alcohol use and the medications you take. They may suggest anxiety rating scales. Prepare a list of questions and any test results if you’ve already had your heart, thyroid or stomach checked.
Some causes of anxiety can’t be identified online. If a thyroid problem, heart rhythm disorder or another physical illness is suspected, the doctor will refer you for lab tests, an ECG and an in-person examination. For acute chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, call 103 or 112 — an emergency must be ruled out first. Prescribing prescription medications depends on the requirements of Kazakhstan’s legislation.
How we help
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
International guidelines consider CBT a first-line treatment for generalized anxiety. You learn to notice anxious thoughts, test them, tolerate uncertainty and stop spending hours on mental checking. Therapy by video is just as structured as in person: the same exercises, homework and regular tracking of results.
Medication
For severe anxiety, a psychiatrist may suggest medications from the antidepressant class or other drugs with an anti-anxiety effect. They are selected individually, taking into account your work, driving and other health conditions. Habit-forming sedatives are prescribed only briefly and with caution. Effectiveness and tolerability are easy to monitor in short online check-ins.
Self-Regulation Skills
Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation and grounding techniques help ease physical tension in the moment. The psychotherapist demonstrates them during a session and helps you build them into your day — for example, using time in traffic on Abay Avenue not to replay problems but for short exercises that relieve tension before you reach the office.
Lifestyle Work
Cutting back on caffeine and energy drinks, regular sleep, physical activity and screen-free time noticeably lower your baseline level of anxiety. A Psychiatry Online specialist reviews your habits without lecturing and helps you choose realistic changes that support the main treatment and last after it ends.
Myths and facts
MythAnxiety is a personality trait — you just have to live with it
FactA tendency to worry can be inborn, but anxiety disorder is a condition with clear ICD criteria that responds well to treatment. You don’t have to live in constant tension.
MythOnly sedatives help with anxiety
FactSedatives have a short-term effect and can be habit-forming. Treatment is based on psychotherapy and, when needed, medications that don’t cause dependence. The combination is chosen by a doctor.
MythIf your tests are normal, it’s all in your head
FactNormal test results mean your physical symptoms aren’t caused by a physical illness. But the racing heart, tension and pain of anxiety are real: they’re the work of the nervous system, and treatment can reduce them.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
You can book in Almaty online or at one of two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty, 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our coordinator replies on WhatsApp within minutes at any time, and a doctor usually connects by video the same day; home visits are available too — all city districts and nearby settlements.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
How is anxiety disorder different from ordinary worry?
Ordinary worry is tied to a specific situation and passes once it’s resolved. With an anxiety disorder, the worry is almost constant, jumps from one topic to another, lasts for months and interferes with life. A consultation with a psychiatrist helps sort this out.
Can anxiety be treated entirely online?
In most cases, yes: diagnosis, psychotherapy and monitoring of medication all work well by video. In-person care is needed for lab tests and examinations to rule out physical causes, and for emergencies.
How long does treatment take?
A CBT course usually takes three to six months. With medication, it is continued for several months after improvement to consolidate the effect. The doctor explains the plan in advance and reviews it at follow-up appointments.
Can I drive while in treatment?
It depends on the prescribed medications. Some can reduce concentration, especially at the start. The doctor will definitely take into account that you drive — for residents of suburbs like Talgar and Kaskelen this is often essential — and choose a suitable option.
What should I do if my anxiety spikes at night?
Use the techniques you’ve learned with your psychotherapist and message the administrator — consultations are available 24/7. If the anxiety comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, thoughts of death or loss of control, call 103 or 112.
Do I need to tell my family about my treatment?
That’s up to you. Your visit is protected by medical confidentiality, and no one will learn about your consultations without your consent. Sometimes support from loved ones helps, and the doctor can suggest how to talk about anxiety disorder so that you’re understood.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
