Medication For Social Anxiety Disorder
Posted on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 8:28 amCategory: Job Related Stress
Being shy or nervous in social situations doesn’t necessarily point to social anxiety. It’s perfectly fine to feel anxious and nervous sometimes; attending a social gathering, getting interviewed for a job, or presenting a meeting. So how do we know if we are suffering from social anxiety disorder?
Sufferers of social anxiety are extremely scared of social situations. Being humiliated and embarrassed is their biggest fear. In most cases they will try and avoid any situation that requires them to do something in front others.
Just thinking about social confrontations are terrifying and embarrassing for sufferers. Negative thoughts only increase feelings of nervousness and anxiety. They feel choked, nauseas and unable to calm their nerves.
Perspiring profusely, shaking of the limbs and a raging heart are some of the physical anxiety symptoms that a sufferer might go through. After a bad experience sufferers replay them over in their minds. Experiences like these can severely damage a person’s confidence and make negative associations.
There are a range of treatments to choose from to tackle social anxiety disorder. Medication alone is relatively ineffective at treating social anxiety. The reason is because medication does not treat the root cause of anxiety. The usual prescribed medications are antidepressants, beta blockers and benzodiazepines which can be addictive.
Before taking any medication, realize the dangers and possible side effects. It’s best to speak to a qualified professional before considering medication. Many people choose not to take medication because of the possible risks involved. Other are other alternatives to consider however.
Therapies include Hypnosis and CBT which can greatly reduce and even cure anxiety symptoms. Therapy helps a sufferer manage and even control oncoming symptoms of anxiety little by little. Anxiety and Stress feeds itself in a vicious circle. Make sure to give yourself time to take a breather. Breathing exercises a few times a day can help you forget about the day and put things in perspective.
Soothing music can help you relax or if you prefer, do it in quiet. Focus on slow and deep breaths ensuring that you relax your muscles. It’s a good idea to loosen up your shoulders and even have a stretch before you start.
The only real way to treat social anxiety is by self-help either through therapy or self help books and audios. Take the first steps in beating this disorder and start enjoying a social life. Click to visit the panic symptoms health blog and get the answers you need.