Hastings, Nebraska
Online Psychiatrist for Anxiety in Hastings, Nebraska
Board certified, physician led anxiety care for adults in Hastings, Nebraska, by secure video.
Written under the clinical direction of Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Last updated October 4, 2026 · Editorial policy
Opening soon in Nebraska. Nebraska is one of shrinkMD's first launch states, and we aren't seeing patients yet. Join the Nebraska waitlist and we'll let you know when intake opens. If you need care sooner, here's how to find the right kind of help now. In a crisis, call or text 988.
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Anxiety in Hastings
Anxiety help in Hastings, Nebraska
People in Hastings should not have to leave town or wait months to get anxiety treatment. With shrinkMD, a board certified clinician is a video visit away.
Hastings is the seat of Adams County, a regional center in south-central Nebraska and home to Hastings College. Its residents, farming families, college students and staff, hospital workers, and commuters, deserve psychiatric care that does not require a long drive or a long wait. shrinkMD is licensed across Nebraska and serves Hastings by secure video.
Mental health shortage data
Is Hastings a mental health shortage area?
Adams County outlined; dot marks Hastings. Light teal: other designated counties.
Hastings is in Adams County, which sits entirely inside Mental Health Catchment Area 3, a federally designated mental health shortage area with a score of 12 out of 25.
A shortage designation means there are too few mental health providers for the people who live there, which often shows up as longer waits. Your primary care clinician can start treatment, and telepsychiatry with a clinician licensed in Nebraska can widen your options. See which professional fits what you need.
See Adams County on the Nebraska shortage map · All Nebraska designations
Source: HRSA mental health shortage designations, checked September 28, 2026; 2020 Census. Shrinktionary and shrinkMD are part of The Shrink Network, founded by Shariq Refai, MD.
Our approach
How we treat anxiety
Anxiety can show up as constant worry, a racing mind, a pounding heart, trouble sleeping, irritability, or a sense of dread that does not match what is actually in front of you. Our anxiety care follows the evidence: a careful diagnosis, non-controlled medication when it helps, and coordination with therapy such as CBT or exposure work, never benzodiazepines for ongoing treatment. Because we do not prescribe controlled substances like Xanax or other benzodiazepines, anxiety care here is built around treatments that create lasting stability instead of short-term sedation.
Why timely care matters
Getting anxiety care in Hastings without the wait
Hastings is home to about 25,000 residents. Of Nebraska's 93 counties, the large majority are designated mental health provider shortage areas and many have no psychiatric prescriber at all, leaving rural residents to drive long distances for in-person care. So even here, a timely in-person psychiatry appointment can be hard to come by, and that is the gap online anxiety care fills for Hastings adults.
Care that fits
Online anxiety care that fits Hastings life
Care from home works for Hastings. The same clinician, secure video visits, and a plan that builds over time, instead of starting over with someone new each appointment. shrinkMD is opening to patients first in Nebraska. Join the waitlist and we will reach out the day intake opens, or read how to start care first. You can also see our broader anxiety care or anxiety care across Nebraska.
“The time taken to explore and adjust my medication in hopes of improving my mental health.”
Verified patient reviews of our founder.
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Will I be put on Xanax or a benzodiazepine?
No. shrinkMD does not prescribe benzodiazepines for ongoing care. We focus on non-controlled options that treat anxiety durably, paired with skills and therapy.
What kinds of anxiety do you treat?
Generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and related patterns in adults. If obsessive-compulsive symptoms are part of the picture, we address those too.
How soon could I start?
shrinkMD is built for timely access rather than months-long waits. Exact timing depends on your state and clinician availability.
Do I have to live in Hastings to be seen?
You need to be located in Nebraska during your visits, since that is where we are licensed. Hastings and the surrounding area are covered.
Is online anxiety care as good as in person in Hastings?
For most adults, yes. Research shows video-based psychiatric care matches in-person care for anxiety, and it is often easier to keep up with from Hastings.
Is online psychiatry legit?
Yes. shrinkMD is LegitScript certified and led by a board certified psychiatrist, with care delivered by licensed clinicians over secure, HIPAA compliant video.
Start anxiety care in Hastings
shrinkMD is opening first in Maine and Nebraska. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when booking opens in your state.
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