| Coping with social anxiety disorder is an experience | | | | of the world. |
| that affects countless number of people throughout | | | | The first step in treatment should involve your seeking |
| the world. Do you feel that you simply cannot be in | | | | help from a professional in the field of psychiatry. |
| amongst a group of people? Does being out in public | | | | Please place your trust in this professional in that he |
| and away from home cause a high level of anxiety | | | | she would only want to do what is in your best |
| and stress within your being? Would you rather just be | | | | interests. Withdrawing completely from society is not |
| inside your home, living in an isolated world? Friend, | | | | an option that you would want to follow. Your doctor, |
| understand that you do not have to live behind the | | | | after a few consultations may choose to put you on a |
| locked doors of your house for the rest of your life. In | | | | prescription medication to help you with the symptoms |
| treating your social anxiety, please realize that you do | | | | of any anxiety, (or panic) attacks that you may |
| not have to go about it alone. | | | | experience. Understand that any medication will only |
| Is there some event in your past which may be the | | | | work on those symptoms of anxiety and stress that |
| trigger as to why you can no longer interact with | | | | has become a part of your being: the chest in your |
| people? Individuals professionally diagnosed with social | | | | pain, dull ache in your stomach, and your high level of |
| anxiety disorder usually did have a traumatic event | | | | nervousness, etc. The medication will not work on the |
| which occurred in their lives. The person could have | | | | trigger, (that past event) which is the underlying reason |
| witnessed a horrific crime, or experienced a very | | | | for your disorder. |
| negative event out in public, (the individual may have | | | | Treatment that will work as a cure for your social |
| given a speech which went horribly wrong. Or he/she | | | | anxiety will involve behavior modification ideals, as well |
| may have had an encounter with another person in | | | | as relaxation exercises. Breathing exercises, (in which |
| public which proved to be very humiliating). | | | | you count slowly up to 5 slowly while inhaling, followed |
| Without treatment, the individual may become quite | | | | by exhaling up to a count of 8) are known cures to |
| consumed by this incident, dwelling on it constantly. | | | | help ease the level of stress and tension in your body. |
| Flashback memories of this event replay itself on an | | | | Yoga and meditation are also great relaxation |
| endless loop inside the person's mind. A high level of | | | | exercises as they also help in regulating your breathing |
| stress and anxiety builds up inside the individual. The | | | | patterns. These exercises also serve to focus your |
| person's brain and central nervous system become | | | | mind away from the trigger which causes your social |
| over-stimulated. It results in the obvious symptoms of | | | | anxiety disorder. |
| impending anxiety attacks: pain in the chest, stomach | | | | Behavior modification techniques would involve the |
| ache, sweaty palms, high level of nervousness, and an | | | | principle of your being able to eventually trust other |
| inability to focus. Often, these attacks take place in | | | | people, again. Your psychiatrist may recommend that |
| fact. Over time and without treatment, these attacks | | | | you contact a trusted friend, or two. Get in |
| can be lethal to a person's body physically, and mind | | | | conversations with a trusted individual who seeks to |
| mentally. | | | | have your best interests in mind. Talk to the individual |
| As a coping mechanism the individual just decides on | | | | over the phone. Invite him/her to your home for lunch. |
| what he/she believed is the only solution. He/she | | | | Engage in conversation with the individual, talking to him |
| decides to protect him/herself from ever experiencing | | | | or her about a subject to which you are comfortable. |
| such an embarrassing moment out in public again. He | | | | Eventually, take the steps to go over to this person's |
| she simply withdraws from society. Staying at home | | | | home to reciprocate the invitation. Take it one step at |
| inside the safe environment of closed-in walls | | | | a time. But, above all try to trust in a small group of |
| becomes the best choice available, instead of | | | | close friends who would act as your support system. |
| interacting with the rest of society. Friend, if this | | | | If you can understand that those in your support |
| decision is something that you may be thinking about, | | | | system are not there to harm you in any way, then |
| then you need to understand one important idea. Your | | | | you have begun down the road towards recovering |
| life simply does not have to carry on as it is for the | | | | from your disorder. |
| next 5, 10, or 20 years like this; isolated from the rest | | | | |