Apr
01

Treatment for Social anxiety?

By admin

I am almost 100% sure i have social anxiety.
I feel that everyone hates me or talks about me
I constantly feel nervous and afraid of embarrassment.

Is there any medicine you can take for this? Other sites suggest therapy, but therapy isn’t for me.
Any suggestions?

Treatments and drugs
Social anxiety disorder typically persists for life, often waxing and waning. But don’t lose hope. Treatment can help you control symptoms and become more confident and relaxed in social situations.
The two most effective types of treatment are medications and a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavior therapy. For the greatest effectiveness, they’re often used in combination.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavior therapy is the only type of therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating social anxiety disorder. This type of therapy is based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave or react. Even if an unwanted situation won’t change — you still have to give a presentation to management, for instance — you can change the way you think and behave in a positive way. In therapy, you learn how to recognize and change negative thoughts about yourself.
Cognitive behavior therapy may also include exposure therapy. In this type of therapy, you gradually work up to facing the situations you fear most. This allows you to become better skilled at coping with these anxiety-inducing situations and to develop the confidence to face them. You may also participate in skills training or role-playing to practice your social skills and gain comfort and confidence relating to others. You may also learn relaxation or stress management techniques.
First choices in medications
Several types of medications are used to treat social anxiety disorder. However, the Food and Drug Administration has specifically approved only three medications, all antidepressants, to treat social anxiety disorder.
Those antidepressants are:
Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Other medication options
Your doctor or mental health provider may also prescribe other medications that haven’t been specifically approved for social anxiety disorder. This is a common and legal practice called off-label use. These medications may include:
Other antidepressants. You may have to try several different antidepressants to find which one is the most effective and has the fewest unpleasant side effects.
Anti-anxiety medications. A type of anti-anxiety medication called benzodiazepines (ben-zo-di-AZ-uh-penes) may reduce your level of anxiety. Although they often work quickly, they can be habit-forming. Because of that, they’re often prescribed for only short-term use. They may also be sedating.
Beta blockers. These medications work by blocking the stimulating effect of epinephrine (adrenaline). They may reduce heart rate, blood pressure, pounding of the heart, and shaking voice and limbs. Because of that, they may work best when used infrequently to control symptoms for a particular situation, such as giving a speech. They’re not recommended for general treatment of social anxiety disorder.
Stick with it
Don’t give up if treatment doesn’t work quickly. You can continue to make strides in therapy over several weeks or months. And remember that finding the right medication for your situation can take some trial and error.
For some people, the symptoms of social anxiety disorder may fade over time, and medication can be discontinued. Others may need to take medication for years to prevent a relapse
Ways to Make Treatment More Effective
Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from joining a self-help or support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Internet chat rooms can also be useful in this regard, but any advice received over the Internet should be used with caution, as Internet acquaintances have usually never seen each other and false identities are common. Talking with a trusted friend or member of the clergy can also provide support, but it is not a substitute for care from a mental health professional.
Stress management techniques and meditation can help people with anxiety disorders calm themselves and may enhance the effects of therapy. There is preliminary evidence that aerobic exercise may have a calming effect. Since caffeine, certain illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders, they should be avoided. Check with your physician or pharmacist before taking any additional medications.
The family is very important in the recovery of a person with an anxiety disorder. Ideally, the family should be supportive but not help perpetuate their loved one’s symptoms. Family members should not trivialize the disorder or demand improvement without treatment. If your family is doing either of these things, you may want to show them this booklet so they can become educated allies and help you succeed in therapy
Lifestyle and home remedies
Although social anxiety disorder generally requires help from a medical expert or qualified psychotherapist, you can try some self-help techniques to handle situations likely to

4 Comments

1

You need to see a doctor. I have clinical depression and anxiety. What you are describing could be both, or just anxiety.
There are medicines that can help with those problems.
If you go to http://www.webmd.com you can take an assessment to see what you should ask your doctor when you see them, etc..
References :

2

Get on lexapro. But how severe is this? Maybe you already know what meds to take, but are looking for an answer to why you are nervous. Just wake up tomorrow morning and choose to be one day LESS anxious, little steps at a time. maybe you don’ t need meds. And why would people hate you? Or even take the time to talk about you? How about YOU think of something else?
References :

3
Bottom Contributor
April 1st, 2010 at 8:38 pm

Even though medication can help you not feel the anxiety or depression, you can likely remain miserable because you’ll still think people are judging you. You should going to a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist or at least reading a good book about it like "feeling good" by David Burns.
References :

4

Treatments and drugs
Social anxiety disorder typically persists for life, often waxing and waning. But don’t lose hope. Treatment can help you control symptoms and become more confident and relaxed in social situations.
The two most effective types of treatment are medications and a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavior therapy. For the greatest effectiveness, they’re often used in combination.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavior therapy is the only type of therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating social anxiety disorder. This type of therapy is based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave or react. Even if an unwanted situation won’t change — you still have to give a presentation to management, for instance — you can change the way you think and behave in a positive way. In therapy, you learn how to recognize and change negative thoughts about yourself.
Cognitive behavior therapy may also include exposure therapy. In this type of therapy, you gradually work up to facing the situations you fear most. This allows you to become better skilled at coping with these anxiety-inducing situations and to develop the confidence to face them. You may also participate in skills training or role-playing to practice your social skills and gain comfort and confidence relating to others. You may also learn relaxation or stress management techniques.
First choices in medications
Several types of medications are used to treat social anxiety disorder. However, the Food and Drug Administration has specifically approved only three medications, all antidepressants, to treat social anxiety disorder.
Those antidepressants are:
Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Other medication options
Your doctor or mental health provider may also prescribe other medications that haven’t been specifically approved for social anxiety disorder. This is a common and legal practice called off-label use. These medications may include:
Other antidepressants. You may have to try several different antidepressants to find which one is the most effective and has the fewest unpleasant side effects.
Anti-anxiety medications. A type of anti-anxiety medication called benzodiazepines (ben-zo-di-AZ-uh-penes) may reduce your level of anxiety. Although they often work quickly, they can be habit-forming. Because of that, they’re often prescribed for only short-term use. They may also be sedating.
Beta blockers. These medications work by blocking the stimulating effect of epinephrine (adrenaline). They may reduce heart rate, blood pressure, pounding of the heart, and shaking voice and limbs. Because of that, they may work best when used infrequently to control symptoms for a particular situation, such as giving a speech. They’re not recommended for general treatment of social anxiety disorder.
Stick with it
Don’t give up if treatment doesn’t work quickly. You can continue to make strides in therapy over several weeks or months. And remember that finding the right medication for your situation can take some trial and error.
For some people, the symptoms of social anxiety disorder may fade over time, and medication can be discontinued. Others may need to take medication for years to prevent a relapse
Ways to Make Treatment More Effective
Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from joining a self-help or support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Internet chat rooms can also be useful in this regard, but any advice received over the Internet should be used with caution, as Internet acquaintances have usually never seen each other and false identities are common. Talking with a trusted friend or member of the clergy can also provide support, but it is not a substitute for care from a mental health professional.
Stress management techniques and meditation can help people with anxiety disorders calm themselves and may enhance the effects of therapy. There is preliminary evidence that aerobic exercise may have a calming effect. Since caffeine, certain illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders, they should be avoided. Check with your physician or pharmacist before taking any additional medications.
The family is very important in the recovery of a person with an anxiety disorder. Ideally, the family should be supportive but not help perpetuate their loved one’s symptoms. Family members should not trivialize the disorder or demand improvement without treatment. If your family is doing either of these things, you may want to show them this booklet so they can become educated allies and help you succeed in therapy
Lifestyle and home remedies
Although social anxiety disorder generally requires help from a medical expert or qualified psychotherapist, you can try some self-help techniques to handle situations likely to
References :

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