Social anxiety can make it difficult to do the things most adults need to do these days, such as shopping, going to the doctor or even visiting with friends. In severe cases, you may become anxious just thinking about dealing with other people, and things many people take for granted, such as eating out, become a thing of the past for you. Social anxiety treatment can help ease the stress of social situations, allowing you to do the things you need to do and get back in control of your life.
Conquer Anxiety the Natural Way
- intense anxiety
- extreme fear for no apparent reason
- extreme self consciousness
- racing heart
- excessive sweating
- dry mouth
- shallow, rapid breathing
Therapy Treatment
Therapy is the most common treatment for social anxiety. In cases where your social anxiety stems from the fear of one or two specific things, therapy may be all you need to overcome your fears. The most common type of therapy used in social anxiety treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on recognizing and addressing the specific triggers for your anxiety.
Often triggering symtoms will include things like…
- Having to say something in a public/formal situation
- Meeting the eyes of others
- Being introduced to others
- Feel like you’re being watched by others when you’re doing something
- Feeling uncomfortable speaking to others
With cognitive-behavioral therapy, you may be asked to imagine yourself in situations that cause you anxiety, and imagine overcoming your fear of the situation until you find yourself no longer anxious about it. You may also participate in social skills training to teach you effective ways to handle many social situations. Positive thinking and relaxation techniques such as focused breathing can also be effective therapies.
Medication
Many times, people with social anxiety disorder may also be depressed. For situations where your social anxiety is more generalized and does not just target a specific situation, antidepressant medications can be very effective in combination with therapy. Common medications used to treat social anxiety include Citalopram, Cymbalta, Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Xanax and Zoloft.
In most cases, a combination of medication and therapy is the most effective social anxiety treatment. Results can be astounding, with patients returning to normal activities (or beginning them for the first time) with little or no fear and anxiety. The most important thing you can do is talk to your doctor and begin treatment. It is never too late to begin feeling better.
