| Anxiety disorders consists of a spectrum of diseases, | | | | therapy and relaxation techniques are the methods |
| one of it which happens to be social anxiety disorder | | | | that will help the patient in the long run. |
| (SAD). SAD is a condition where the signs and | | | | In most instances, doctors will advise the patient to |
| symptoms of anxiety occurs when the individual is in a | | | | practice relaxation techniques and adapt stress |
| social situation or perceives that he/she will be in a | | | | relieving exercises. Relaxation techniques are |
| social situation where he/she may be negatively | | | | particularly useful when a patient is experiencing the |
| judged. This fear of social situations encompasses any | | | | anxiety attack and the patient can utilize it to cope |
| situation that may require interaction with another | | | | when in a social situation. Stress relieving exercises are |
| individual or group of individuals. The fear arises as the | | | | also beneficial and exercises like tai chi and yoga are |
| individual perceives that he may be embarrassed or | | | | often advised. These exercises help the individual to |
| humiliated. This fear is often accompanied by physical | | | | maintain calmness most of the time. In instances |
| signs and symptoms such as palpitation, | | | | where these efforts are insufficient, medical |
| breathlessness, sweating, dizziness and shaking among | | | | practitioners or psychiatrists will then advise cognitive |
| others. | | | | behavioral therapy. |
| The road to achieving successful cure and treatment | | | | Medications that are usually prescribed include |
| of SAD can be a long and winding one. Nevertheless | | | | selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which |
| treatment and cure is possible if only one were | | | | are a class of antidepressants, and sedatives like |
| prepared to exert sufficient will power and be | | | | benzodiazepines. Sedatives only offer very short term |
| persistent with his or her efforts. | | | | relief of symptoms and have the potential to cause |
| Among the treatment options available are | | | | dependence and abuse. As such these medications |
| medications, relaxation techniques and cognitive | | | | are never prescribed for long term therapy. SSRIs are |
| behavioral therapy. Preferable medications should be | | | | the preferred choice of treatment due to their lack of |
| combined with the other forms of therapy. This is | | | | side effects and dependency potential. However, |
| because medication merely treats the signs and | | | | SSRIs once commenced cannot be stopped abruptly. |
| symptoms of the disease but fails to address the | | | | Cessation is a process that must be done slowly over |
| underlying cause of the disorder. Cognitive behavioral | | | | time to prevent withdrawal symptoms. |