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Anxiety Counseling and Psychotherapy
Anxiety is an abnormal apprehension and fear often accompanied by physiological signs, such as sweating and an increased pulse.
Anxiety is characterized by a feeling of vague, unspecified harm, apprehension or distress, often about the future, without an apparent cause.
I distinguish between anxiety, which can be thought of as a reaction to an ambiguous or imagined danger, and fear, which is a response to a real threat.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of emotional disorders and affect more than 25 million Americans.
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness. Untreated anxiety disorders can push people
into avoiding situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. People with anxiety disorders are likely to suffer
from depression, and they also may abuse alcohol and other drugs in an effort to gain relief from their symptoms.
Job performance, school work, and personal relationships can also suffer.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
- General Anxiety Disorder involves chronic, repeated episodes of anxiety fear and dread accompanied by physiological symptoms.
- Phobic Disorder is an irrational, persistent, exaggerated fear of a specific situation or object and
avoidance of the dreaded stimulus.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves recurrent thoughts, feelings or actions that are unpleasant and which provoke anxiety.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) results from major trauma and include the re-experiencing of the trauma and emotional numbing.
- Panic Disorder involves severe attacks of overwhelming anxiety and is characterized by panic attacks.
A common problem that occurs in anxiety disorders is panic attacks, an
overwhelming combination of physical and psychological distress. During an attack several of the following symptoms can occur in combination:
- Pounding heart or chest pain
- Sweating, trembling, shaking
- Shortness of breath, sensation of choking
- Nausea or abdominal pain
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling unreal or disconnected
- Fear of losing control, "going crazy," or dying
- Numbness
- Chills or hot flashes
The anxiety that someone experiences does not always meet the criteria of an anxiety disorder, but it can still interfere with quality of life.
General symptoms of anxiety include:
- Overwhelming feelings of panic and fear
- Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts
- Painful, intrusive memories
- Recurring nightmares
- Physical symptoms such as feeling sick to your stomach, "butterflies" in your stomach, heart
pounding, startling easily, and muscle tension
Treatment of Anxiety
Many people who suffer from anxiety find it important to consider natural treatments first
because if unsuccessful, it can mean a lifetime of taking anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) medications, many of which are highly addictive.
There are complementary and alternative therapies that can help will many anxiety disorders. For example, research has shown
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) to be an effective therapy for PTSD. Other examples include meditation and relaxation training, both
of which have been used successfully in the treatment of anxiety. Additionally, there are many other natural therapies that have been shown useful in
treating anxiety.
Of course, there are times when anxiety disorders are so severe and disabling that medication is required. Even in such cases, natural therapies can often
reduce the amount of medication needed as well as unwanted side effects.
I use a combination of psychotherapeutic and natural methods to help anxiety.
With support, education, and modification of behaviors and lifestyle, many people enjoy long-term success.
My book Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental
Health explains how the powerful combination of psychotherapy and natural methods helps
people to recover from anxiety quickly and appreciate lasting results.
When we work together, I am committed to helping you feel supported in your journey to health and happiness.
If you have questions or would like to make an appointment, please call my office
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Articles by Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
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Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D., LMFT ♦
San Jose Psychotherapist, Psychotherapy and Couples Counseling
1174 Lincoln Ave Suite 6 ♦
San Jose, California, 95125
Contact Dr. Fredricks
Schedule Appointment
Randi Fredricks is a Psychotherapist providing Psychotherapy and Couples Counseling, and Licensed as a Marriage Family Therapist MFC 47803.
Dr. Fredricks is Executive Director of Randi Fredricks, Marriage and Family Therapist, Inc.
© 1991 -
All rights reserved.
The recommendations on this website do not constitute professional advice, substitute for professional treatment, or establish a therapeutic
relationship. Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D. of San Jose Psychotherapist, Psychotherapy and Couples Counseling is a psychotherapist in San Jose, California
providing counseling, psychotherapy, and therapy for individuals and couples with relationship issues, anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress
disorder, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, addiction, co-dependency, trauma, abuse, eating disorders, and managing grief and loss.
If you search for counseling San Jose, psychotherapy San Jose, psychotherapist San Jose, therapist San Jose, counselor San Jose, couples therapist
San Jose, couples counselor San Jose, marriage therapy San Jose, life coach San Jose, career coach San Jose, executive coach San Jose, you can find
San Jose Counseling and San Jose Psychotherapy and Dr. Fredricks in San Jose and the Silicon Valley as the leading provider of such services.
In addition to serving San Jose, Dr. Fredricks serves Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Milpitas, Mountain View, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Scotts Valley,
Santa Cruz, Felton, Sunnyvale, Morgan Hill, Fremont, Los Altos, and Gilroy, California.
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Author of Healing & Wholeness: Complementary
and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health
