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Bean Ruiz posted an update 6 months ago
How to Cope With generalized anxiety disorder feel nervous or shy in certain situations. These feelings can become overwhelming and may be an indication that you suffer from social anxiety disorder.
Symptoms of social anxiety disorder typically involve distress or fear in the majority of social and performance situations. The fear or distress is not proportional to the actual risk of the situation. The fear can be specific or generalized.
Treatment
People with social anxiety disorder experience intense anxiety and stress that is insignificant to the actual danger that they face, for example, feeling embarrassed or humiliated in public. These emotions can lead to a avoiding of social situations and, in some instances, depression or other health issues. There are many treatments available for this condition.
Psychotherapy and medication can ease symptoms and improve your quality of life. Psychotherapy (also referred to as cognitive behavior treatment) can help you develop coping skills to manage anxiety and change negative thinking patterns. You and your therapist will collaborate to build your confidence and slowly face the situations that cause you stress. This type of treatment usually takes between 12 and 16 sessions.
In person or online You can avail the benefits of talking therapies. One of the most popular therapies is exposure therapy, where you gradually expose yourself to social situations that cause you to feel uncomfortable. In this way, you can teach your brain that these situations aren’t as risky as they seem.
It could take several weeks or even months before medications begin to work. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine, sertraline, and fluoxetine can help reduce anxiety. They can also help with your depressive symptoms. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are other antidepressants that can help with anxiety. Antianxiety medication, like alprazolam and clonazepam, can aid in relieving your symptoms. However they should only be used for short periods of time.
You and your doctor must consider the risks and benefits of each medication before choosing one. Certain antidepressants can affect your sleeping patterns, while others could increase your suicide risk. If you are considering taking an antidepressant, talk about it with your therapist or a psychologist. Your therapist and you can also discuss whether the medication could interact with any other drugs or supplements you are taking, like herbal remedies. In addition to evaluating the medication your doctor will also need to know how severe your social anxiety is and how it affects your daily life.
Self-help
Social anxiety disorder is a severe form of anxiety that is very uncomfortable. If you suffer from this disorder, it’s more than just a matter of feeling butterflies in the stomach prior to giving a public speech or being nervous about making new acquaintances; they are also plagued by a constant fear that others will judge them or embarrass them in some way. Social anxiety disorder is such a debilitating condition that it can affect every aspect of life, including work and relationships as well as home. There are a variety of self-help methods available to help people with social anxiety disorder improve their quality of life.
Self-help includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps people understand anxiety and change the negative thoughts that trigger anxiety. CBT can be done in a group or individually with a counselor, and is typically mixed with other medications. People with social anxiety disorder should also be able to participate in activities that help them feel happy. Exercise, for instance, can reduce stress and boost mood. Spending time with positive people is a different self-help method. It can be challenging for someone with social anxieties to be around positive people.
It is possible to overcome social anxiety by tackling the challenges, particularly if you are competitive. This could be as simple as battling yourself, for instance or trying to speak to everyone at a dinner party more times than you did last time. It could be as easy as competing against yourself, for example, trying to talk to each person at a dinner event more than you did last time.
If you haven’t yet sought treatment for your anxiety about social situations, start by talking to your general practitioner. They can refer to a mental healthcare professional who can offer you advice and assistance. Self-help options include psychotherapy as well as medication. Medication isn’t a cure for anxiety in social situations however it can alleviate symptoms and decrease the severity of anxiety.
Medication
Talk to your doctor in case you are suffering from anxiety or fear that is interfering with your daily routine, or making you avoid certain situations, or making you avoid major life changes. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and conduct a physical exam to ensure that you don’t have an unrelated medical issue. If your doctor suspects that you suffer from social anxiety, they will refer you to a specialist in mental health. There are a variety of psychotherapy (sometimes called “talk therapy”) that can help treat social anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you learn new techniques to manage anxiety and help change the negative thoughts that lead to it. CBT can be conducted by yourself or with a group of individuals in support groups. Another type of psychotherapy is exposure therapy. in which a medical professional helps you gradually face the things that make you feel anxious or uncomfortable, rather than trying to avoid 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 trigger changes in your brain that improve your mood and reduce anxiety. It may take a few weeks before the medication begins working. Some people with social anxiety disorder might also benefit from benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, clonazepam or Xanax. These drugs are effective in helping reduce anxiety and are addictive, which is why they are typically only used for brief intervals or in specific situations, like before giving a speech.
There are many other types of medications that can be used to treat social anxiety, including tricyclic antidepressants as well as a class of drugs known as monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs). Your doctor will choose the right medication for you based on the symptoms you experience and any other health conditions or allergies you suffer from. Be sure to tell your doctor about any other supplements or medications you take and discuss any adverse effects that could occur. It is important to keep taking your medication as prescribed even if feeling better. If you stop your medication abruptly, it could increase your risk of having a relapse.
Support groups
If you’re a social anxious person, support groups can help you overcome your anxieties and learn to manage your condition. They provide a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere in which you can discuss your issues with other people who suffer from the same disorder. You can also learn to manage your emotions and improve your quality of life. Support groups can be found in person or on the internet.
Consider the group’s structure and membership requirements prior to joining. Some groups are run professionally by mental health professionals while others are self-help group without professional guidance. Consider whether the group will be meeting regularly or operate more fluidly. You might also want to consider how many members will be present and the amount of privacy you’ll enjoy.
A therapist or doctor asking for suggestions is the best method to find an organization that can help you. You should also read reviews about various groups and ask for feedback from people who have been part of the group. You can also use the resources offered by ADAA which is the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. They have a list of online and community support groups in the United States, Canada and other countries.
Meeting with strangers can be a frightening experience for people with social anxiety disorders. The possibility of being in front of a group of people can be overwhelming. Request a friend or family member to accompany you to the initial meetings if you are worried about attending alone. You can also find support groups through a website like Support Groups Central, which provides audio and video calls, discussion forums chat rooms and discussion forums.
A good support group can assist you in dealing with social anxiety by showing you that you’re not alone and helping you realize that the negative thoughts you think about yourself aren’t accurate or true at all. It can also help you develop an optimistic attitude and the abilities to manage your social anxiety. Any advice you receive from an online support group should only be used with caution, and should not replace the advice of your doctor’s treatment plan.