How to Cope With Social Anxiety Disorder
Many people are nervous or shy in certain situations. If these feelings become overwhelming, it may be a sign of social anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorders usually involve fear or distress in the majority of social and performance situations. The anxiety or fear is insignificant to the risk involved in the situation. The fears can be either specific or generalized.
Treatment
Social anxiety disorder causes people to feel anxiety and fear in a way that is not proportional to the actual danger. For example, they may be afraid of being humiliated or embarrassed in public. These emotions can lead to a avoiding of social situations, and in some cases depression or other health issues. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options for this condition.
Psychotherapy and medications can help relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life. Psychotherapy, also referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy, can help you develop coping skills to manage anxiety and to change your negative thoughts patterns. Together, you and your therapist can build your confidence to face stressful situations. This type of therapy typically takes between 12 and 16 sessions.
Talking therapies are available either in person or online. Exposure therapy is a typical type of therapy that involves gradually exposing yourself to situations that cause you to feel uncomfortable. You can help your brain accept that the situations may not be as dangerous as they seem.
It could take months or even weeks for medication to begin working. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac) sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) can help reduce the severity of your anxiety. They can also ease your depressive symptoms. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are other antidepressants that can help with anxiety. Antianxiety medications, like alprazolam and clonazepam can also help alleviate your symptoms. However they should only be used in short-term doses.
When choosing a medication you and your doctor will have to weigh the benefits and dangers of each. Some antidepressants may interfere with your sleep, while others can increase your suicide risk. Discuss the possibility of taking an antidepressant with your counselor or psychologist. Your counselor and you can discuss the possibility that the medication might interact with other drugs or supplements you're using, such as herbal remedies. In addition to looking into the medication your doctor needs to know how severe your social anxiety is and how it affects your daily life.
Self-help
Social anxiety disorder is a terribly type of anxiety that is extremely uncomfortable. This disorder is more than being nervous prior to giving a speech in public or feeling anxious when meeting new people. It's a constant fear of being judged or embarrassed in some way. Social anxiety disorder is so debilitating that it affects all aspects of life, including work and relationships as well as home. There are, however, many self-help strategies which can help people suffering from this condition improve their lives.
Self-help includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of therapy that assists people deal with anxiety and change the negative thoughts that trigger it. CBT can be done in a group or individually with a therapist, and is often combined with medication. https://blogfreely.net/litterplain26/5-disorder-social-anxiety-leassons-from-the-pros should also be involved in activities that they enjoy. Exercise, for example can ease anxiety and improve mood. Another self-help technique is to be around positive people. This might be hard for someone who is anxious about social situations, but it is beneficial if you surround yourself with people who love you and see your beauty, even though you might not be able to be able to see it yourself.
Taking on challenges is also a way to overcome social anxiety, especially for those with an innate competitive streak. It could be as simple a competition with yourself. For instance, try to talk to every person at a party more than you did last time. It could be as simple as battling yourself, for instance, trying to talk to everyone at a dinner party longer than you did the last time.
Consult your general practitioner even if you haven't sought assistance for social anxiety. They can refer to an expert in mental health who can provide advice and support. Self-help options include psychotherapy as well as medication. Medication does not cure social anxiety, but it does reduce the symptoms.
Medication
If you're experiencing anxiety or anxiety that affects your daily life, or makes you avoid certain situations or major life changes, consult an expert in health care. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and perform an examination to make sure that there isn't a recurrent medical issue. If your doctor suspects you suffer from social anxiety disorder, he or she will refer you to an expert in mental health. There are a variety of psychotherapy (sometimes called "talk therapy") that can help treat social anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that teaches you new strategies to manage anxiety, can help you change your negative thoughts and feelings that cause anxiety. CBT can be done alone or with a group of individuals in support groups. Another form of psychotherapy is called exposure therapy, where a health professional assists you in overcoming the things that cause you anxiety or discomfort, rather than avoiding them.
Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), can also help with the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. These antidepressants signal changes in your brain that improve your mood and decrease anxiety. It can take some time before the medications begin working. Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) or clonazepam (Klonopin), may also be prescribed to people with social anxiety disorders. These drugs can reduce anxiety quickly and can become habit-forming. They are, therefore, only employed in situations that are short-term or on demand.
There are other medicines that can be used to combat social anxiety. These include tricyclic antidepressants, and the class known as monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs). Your doctor will select the most effective treatment for you in accordance with your symptoms and health conditions. Inform your doctor if are taking any other medications supplements, vitamins, or supplements. Also, discuss any possible adverse effects. It is important to continue taking your medication as prescribed even if you're feeling better. If you stop taking your medication suddenly, it increases the likelihood of Relapse.
Support groups
Support groups can help you learn to manage and overcome your social anxiety. These groups provide an unprejudiced and safe space where you can talk about your concerns with other people with the same issue. You can also learn to manage your feelings and improve the quality of your life. Support groups are available in person or online.
Examine the group's structure as well as membership requirements prior to joining. Some groups are run professionally by mental health professionals while others are self-help group with no professional guidance. You should also consider whether the group will be regularly scheduled to meet or if it will operate on a more flexible basis. You might also want to consider how many people will be in attendance and how much privacy you'll have.
Asking your therapist or doctor for recommendations is the best way to find an organization that can help you. You should also read reviews of various groups and ask for feedback from people who have been in the group. You can also use resources provided by ADAA and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. They have a list of online and community support groups for people suffering from anxiety disorders in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Meeting with strangers can be a scary experience for those suffering from social anxiety disorder, and the possibility of being in front of a group of people can feel overwhelming. If you're worried about attending a gathering alone, consider asking an acquaintance or family member to join you for the first few meetings. You can also find support groups via websites like Support Groups Central, which offers video and audio calls, discussion forums, and chat rooms.
A good support group will aid you in dealing with your social anxiety. It will teach you that you're not the only one, and it will help you realize that your negative thoughts about yourself aren't real or true. It can also help develop a positive attitude and abilities to manage your social anxiety. Any advice you receive from an online support group should be used with caution, and should not be a substitute for the advice of your doctor's treatment plan.