Stress

Trusted & Highly Rated

Talk to Our Team Before You Commit

A no-obligation 30-minute call to answer your questions and map out your options.

Tuesdays | 7:00–8:30 PM EST | 30 minutes

Virtual Stress Care – Personalized Telemedicine Care Through SustainMD Memberships

If stress is taking over your days and affecting your health, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to face it without support. Stress doesn’t just impact your mood; it can also influence sleep, eating habits, weight, and overall metabolic health.

At SustainMD, we don’t replace specialty mental health care, but we do provide obesity medicine and primary care that adapt to the challenges of stress. Through virtual membership-based care, Dr. Allison Pope Barbee, MD, partners with you to understand how stress is affecting your body and daily routines.

As a member, you’ll receive compassionate, evidence-based support with a physician who knows your story and creates practical, sustainable strategies for managing stress while protecting your long-term health and energy.

At-a-Glance

Type of Care: Virtual telemedicine-based memberships

Serving Patients In: California, Florida, Maine, North Carolina

Ideal For: Adults experiencing chronic stress, burnout, or stress-related health concerns

First Step: Initial telehealth consultation with Dr. Allison Barbee

Understanding Stress – Why Personalized Online Stress Treatment Matters

Stress is your body’s natural reaction to demands, pressure, or perceived threats. Short bursts of stress can be motivating, but when stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it starts to harm your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Many people dealing with stress are told to “just relax” or “take a break.” At SustainMD, we know that real, lasting change comes from understanding your unique triggers and seeing how stress interacts with your overall health. That’s why our membership-based primary care model includes ongoing support — so you’re never left with just a one-time visit or quick fix.

Recognizing Stress Symptoms – When to Seek Virtual Stress Management

Knowing the signs of stress can help you act before it takes a bigger toll on your life.

Common stress symptoms include:

Persistent worry or anxious thoughts

Muscle tension, headaches, or body aches

Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

Irritability or mood swings

Trouble sleeping (stress and sleep problems often go hand-in-hand)

Digestive issues or changes in appetite

When left unmanaged, these symptoms can snowball into more serious issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, and chronic fatigue.

Causes and Risk Factors – Understanding What Fuels Your Stress

Stress isn’t always caused by one single factor. For many people, it’s the result of multiple challenges building up over time.

Major life changes (moving, loss, new job)

Workplace demands or job uncertainty

Financial pressures

Chronic illness or pain

Hormonal changes (such as menopause or thyroid disorders)

Underlying mental health conditions like anxiety or depression

Identifying underlying factors is the first step toward managing stress in a sustainable way. During your telehealth visits, Dr. Allison Barbee looks beyond symptoms to consider how stress affects your sleep, eating habits, energy, and weight — then adapts your care plan to fit those needs.

How Our Membership-Based Virtual Stress Treatment Works

Unlike short-term programs, SustainMD’s virtual membership provides continuous care, flexibility, and a strong patient-doctor relationship. This means you receive ongoing guidance that supports both your physical and emotional well-being, tailored to your unique challenges.

Your care plan may include:

Comprehensive evaluation of stress symptoms and related health factors

Evidence-based stress management therapy online referrals when appropriate

Personalized relaxation techniques for stress that fit your lifestyle

Guidance to improve sleep quality and manage fatigue

Nutrition, movement, and self-care strategies to improve resilience

Ongoing adjustments and direct communication with Dr. Barbee

This approach allows you to work on your stress consistently, building habits and strategies that last.

How to Start With SustainMD

01.

Review our Membership Plans & Pricing

02.

Select the plan that best fits your needs

03.

Complete your secure online intake form

04.

Schedule your initial telemedicine visit with Dr. Allison Barbee

05.

Begin your stress management program with ongoing support

Meet Allison Pope Barbee, MD – Your Partner in Stress Management

Dr. Allison Barbee is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with over 20 years of clinical experience. She has helped countless patients address the physical and emotional effects of stress, always with a personalized, judgment-free approach.

In addition to her medical expertise, she is a proud member of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), advocating for accessible, affordable treatment for patients. Her commitment to finding cost-effective solutions extends to stress care — ensuring you get the support you need without unnecessary barriers.

Serving Patients Across Four States

SustainMD provides stress therapy online and telehealth-based stress management for adults in:

What Our Patients Say

Patient12

Dr. Barbee listens to your concerns, is empathetic and knowledgable. Not once has she made me feel ashamed or less than. She gives practical, reasonable and most importantly, doable recommendations. She uses lifestyle interventions instead of immediately jumping to medications, but will also use medications if you and she believe

Patient11

Dr. Barbee has been a remarkable weight loss physician for me. She distinguished herself by customizing her approach to suit my individual needs. Throughout our sessions, she was incredibly attentive, understanding my specific health concerns and weight loss goals. Dr. Barbee excelled in explaining the details of the medications she

Patient10

Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about

Patient9

Dr Barbee actually listened to me and was able to diagnose my symptoms and actually treat and control the issue. I can not thank her enough! She was super patient and kind. Something you don’t really see now a days.

A.M.

Dr. Barbee understands that health is not one-size-fits-all. She takes the time to listen, remembers details, and works collaboratively with me as things evolve. The most meaningful part of working with her is feeling truly heard and supported, not just during appointments but overall in my care.

Andrea

The best! I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee’s for years! She has guided and treated me in my worst and best days. Her professionalism is top notch, along with her knowledge of health. You cannot ask for any better care than Dr. Barbee!

Suzanne Layser

Truly a compassionate Doctor- I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Barbee. I felt truly cared for. Dr. Barbee was incredibly compassionate, took the time to really listen, and never made me feel rushed. She asked thoughtful questions and genuinely wanted to understand what I was experiencing. What impressed

Patient8

Patient7

Great doctor- Dr. Barbee is a kind and caring doctor. She is the type of person you can talk to and really will listen. She understands your problems and will work with you to solve them. She is very thorough and make sure everything is looked at does not miss

Patient6

Thoughtful, caring and truly helpful-I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee for many years. I have always found her honest and helpful. She works hard to look at root causes, which can take a while to figure out. She is persistent, yet kind. As we age, our bodies change.

Start Your Journey