| What is Social Anxiety? | | | | caused by specific circumstances, such as performing |
| It is one of the most common psychological problems | | | | in public. Because they help to alleviate anxiety |
| in the USA affecting over 15 million Americans annually | | | | symptoms, they can often be used prior to attending a |
| so, for most of us, social anxiety treatment is not | | | | stressful event to keep your symptoms under control. |
| warranted. Social anxiety is the fear or apprehension | | | | Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): Another |
| one feels about interacting socially often because one | | | | anti-depressant. However, using MAOIs requires a |
| feels that they are being judged and evaluated | | | | strict diet in which you will need to eliminate certain |
| negatively. It is often accompanied by physical | | | | common foods, or run the risk of a serious drug |
| symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, blushing and | | | | interaction which could be life-threatening. |
| shaky voice, just to name a few. | | | | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| When is Social Anxiety a Problem? | | | | This is the most effective and widely used social |
| Most people get a little nervous occasionally, like when | | | | anxiety treatment and will most often include some of |
| they have to speak in public, but this is not a problem | | | | these therapeutic strategies: |
| unless the fear or anxiety becomes extreme and | | | | Psychoeducation: You will be provided with information |
| interferes with your daily routines, your job or social life. | | | | about your disorder like what caused it, what you can |
| When the anxiety becomes so severe that you start | | | | do about it, what it is and how to prevent recurrences. |
| to avoid most social settings and miss out on things | | | | Cognitive Restructuring: This is the process of |
| you'd really like to do or need to do, then you could be | | | | recognizing and changing the negative thought patterns |
| dealing with a Social Anxiety Disorder, otherwise | | | | experienced in certain social situations. |
| known as Social Phobia. | | | | In Vivo Exposure: This is designed to gradually let you |
| How Do You Treat Social Anxiety? | | | | face situations that cause you significant anxiety or |
| There are many self-help remedies available, | | | | those that you avoid altogether. |
| everything from exercise to meditation, but the most | | | | Interoceptive Exposure: This social anxiety treatment is |
| highly effective social anxiety treatment is therapy, | | | | used to help some people confront the fear they have |
| medication or a combination of the two. | | | | of their own anxiety symptoms. The therapist |
| Medication | | | | attempts to bring on one or more of the anxiety |
| Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): This is | | | | symptoms they normally experience in order to lessen |
| the number one preference for medication because | | | | the fear they have of these harmless sensations. |
| they are effective and they don't have all the adverse | | | | Social Skills Training: Often, people who fear social |
| side effects of some other anxiety drugs. | | | | situations feel that they do not have the social skills |
| Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors | | | | necessary to interact with others. By working on their |
| (SNRIs): Anti-depressants which work by increasing | | | | social skills they raise their self-esteem which will lead |
| your serotonin and norepinephrine levels, chemicals | | | | to less anxiety in social settings. |
| which improve your mood. | | | | Cognitive behavioral therapy can provide permanent |
| Benzodiazepines: Just another name for tranquilizers. | | | | anxiety relief in just a short amount of time. If you |
| They act quickly in calming your anxiety. Unfortunately, | | | | faithfully follow the CBT methods, this social anxiety |
| if taken for long periods of time they can become | | | | treatment can help you to conquer your fears and |
| addictive. | | | | lead a normal lifestyle. |
| Beta-Blockers: Used to treat anxiety symptoms | | | | |