For people with social anxiety disorder..what specific medication or treatment has worked best for you?

Question

I believe I have a serious case of social anxiety disorder although I have never been professionally tested (due to the fact that I'm scared to see a doctor about it -- go figure).

I have been with my fiance for a year and I almost break down into massive panic attacks everytime I am in the company of his parents. I have become unglued at dinner with them, spilling water all over the table due to my shaking hands. I avoid most of their family parties and claim either sickness or another event to attend. My fiance even says my nervousness is very noticeable and that I sometimes look like a complete mess. He tells me all the time to calm down and act myself, but I can't. I don't know why this happens to me but it does.

This happens with other things as well. I am petrified to continue my education and go off to college. I attempted it but I was nervous everyday in class and uneasy. I am a day care teacher and speaking with my boss and the children's parents is a STRUGGLE! Help me!

I met my fiance at a high school party when I was under the influence of alcohol. I would have never had the nerve to approach him sober.

Also, job interviews....most nerve wrecking events in my life. I spend days worrying about them.

Answer 1

Medications often used for chronic, severe, or generalized social anxiety disorder include:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), to relieve anxiety. SSRIs are often the first type of medication used to treat generalized social anxiety disorder.
Benzodiazepines, to relieve anxiety. They are fast-acting; however, they may be habit-forming and are not generally used in those with substance abuse problems.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), to relieve depression and anxiety. MAOIs have potentially serious side effects when they are taken with certain foods (such as some cheeses and red wine).
Beta-blockers, to reduce anxiety. Beta-blockers are sometimes used to treat physical symptoms of anxiety (such as tremors or rapid heart rate).
Venlafaxine, to help relieve anxiety and depression.
Ongoing treatment of social anxiety disorder usually includes continuing psychological counseling and regular checkups to monitor any medications you may be taking.

If professional counseling alone has not reduced your anxiety symptoms, medications may be added to your treatment.

It is possible to overcome the fears associated with social anxiety disorder. Working through fears with a specific type of therapy-cognitive-behavioral therapy that includes exposure therapy-may be the best approach for treating your anxiety. It is important to continue professional counseling even if you are taking medications to reduce anxiety.

Types of therapy that effectively treat social anxiety disorder include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps you identify anxieties and situations that provoke the anxiety. Initially, you may feel uncomfortable while addressing the feared situations, but it is an important part of your recovery. Several types of cognitive-behavioral therapy are used to treat social anxiety disorder, including:
Exposure therapy. You will be guided by a professional counselor to imagine you are facing the feared situation until you no longer fear it, such as eating in public. Next, you may go with your counselor to a public place and eat until, eventually, you can eat by yourself in public without fear.
Social skills training. This therapy helps you develop the skills you need in social situations through rehearsing and role-playing. Your anxiety is reduced as you become more comfortable with and prepared for the feared social situations.
Cognitive restructuring. This therapy helps you learn to identify and improve fearful thinking to help you better handle social situations.
Symptom management skills. This therapy teaches you how to reduce stress by controlling your breathing and other physical responses to anxiety.
Supportive therapy. This can include:
Education about the disorder.
Family therapy, to support loved ones affected by your condition.
Group therapy or support groups, to seek support from others also diagnosed with the disorder.
If your anxiety is triggered by many social situations (generalized), you may need continuous and prolonged treatment with a combination of counseling and medications. During this time, your health professional will need to monitor your medications. If one medication is ineffective, you and your health professional may decide you should try another.

With social anxiety disorder, it is possible to progress from debilitating fear of one social situation to having anxiety about all social encounters (generalized). If this occurs, additional treatment is needed that usually includes adding medications and increasing the amount of professional counseling you receive.

You may also feel more anxious when starting professional counseling. This is because you are thinking about the situations that cause you fear and anxiety. Once the situations have been identified, the fears can be addressed through counseling-especially cognitive-behavioral therapy which includes exposure therapy-gradually exposing you to your fear.

If you are taking medications to treat social anxiety disorder, you will need regular checkups to monitor the medications (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and their potential side effects. The medications may cause bothersome side effects that may make your anxiety worse at first. These side effects may get better over time. But if they do not, you may need to take a different medicine.

If social anxiety disorder is left untreated or improperly treated, it can cause debilitating distress that interferes with daily activities. Physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, blushing, shortness of breath, and dizziness can occur and need to be assessed.

Other psychological conditions (such as depression or substance abuse) may accompany social anxiety disorder, and these conditions need additional treatment. If left untreated, the combination of social anxiety disorder and another psychological condition (such as depression) can increase the risk of attempted suicide.

Answer 2

I was diagnosed with SAD a few years ago. And I refused to take any medication. I feel like I've pretty much overcome it today. The solution for me, and what my doctor gave to me, was to just dive in head first. I had a serious problem with only CERTAIN people, and meeting new people. It turned out that the problem for me was the dread of meeting people (going to a party, first day of school, social events). It was always prior to the social interaction I would have my greatest anxiety. Once I dived right in, and overcame that, I found that I just acted rather natural in the situation. I still feel rather paranoid in a lot of situations, and it sits at the back of my mind all the time, but I make a conscious effort constantly to master my own anxiety.

Basically, the method that worked for me were all these little mini-experiments I did for myself. What was it that I was so afraid of? Rejection. I started small, and moved into new waters, where I put myself in situations where I was terrified of being rejected. And consciously put my fears to the test. And after the ordeal, I would realize that my own fears and prior interpretations were unfounded and had no base on real evidence.

All in all, what I used was a form of cognitive-behavior therapy (see my source). I didn't change the chemicals in my brain, but I changed my way of thinking, and my interpretations of events and people. It's a very conscious effort you have to make. THOUGH, in retrospect (and even today) I definitely would have benefited more, and my treatment probably would have been that much more effective with some medication, to help hinder my own anxiety.

See a doctor, please. He'll be able to show you the steps to all of this. Bring your fiancee if you need. And don't be afraid to get medication. There is quite a large stigma with medications, but they have there uses. Good luck. And just try to relax. :)

Answer 3

I have the exact same thing you do. I hate going out, especially to public places. I fear seeing someone I know out in public and I always feel as though everyone is staring and judging me. Its uncontolable, everything logical has no bearing on your mind. You know deep down there is no reason to be afraid but It doesnt matter. I am afraid to meet new people and I always lived by a horrible rule that if people want to talk you, they will, otherwise leave them alone.

I have been going to a doctor for the past 5 years. The trick is to find someone who cares about your condition not someone who cares about the few hundred dollars they make for the hour you see them. Dont let this anxiety make you afraid to see a doctor, their job is too help you, and anything you tell them they must keep secret by law (with a very few extreme exceptions).

As for medications, I have been on probably 15 different pills. The best one in my opinion was zoloft. Its more for depression but can help a lot with anxiety. Unfortunalty, all medications have side affects and zoloft made me tired during the day. Regardless, it really helped and I felt almost normal for a while. Everyone is different and it may take some time to find the right medication and dosage for you. You should also try cognitive theory which focuses on your thought process rather than your brain chemistry.

I just started college a week ago and everyday is a struggle for me. I have to spend 15 minutes before class talking to myself before I can leave my dorm room and it has been very hard for me to meet people. If you need to talk to someone who has exactly what you have, feel free to send me a message. Hope this helped and good luck!

Answer 4

medication for anxiety and depression can vary or there are meds that cover both. its good that you are in therapy because meds aren't a cure all. they work best when you take them and still engage in therapy. Depression meds take about a month to see any results, taking them regularly every day. They basically help level out your thoughts but cant fix everything. Anxiety meds are usually take as needed.They are more there to just calm you down. Ive am currently on one type of med that is for anxiety and depression, it is called celexa. I def noticed a small change after a month of taking it. I feel less on edge, a little less worried and calmer. I also have xanax for anxiety attacks. If i feel an attack coming on and it basically calms me down within 20 minutes. Starting meds can be scary. Dont go on line and do a lot of research because there are a lot of sites online that obsess about side effects and random negative cases. The doctor will make the best decisions about what you need and will prescribe the meds that are most beneficial for you. It may take some trial and error. I have had some negative effects from a few different kinds of meds. But working with a doctor or therapist they will be able to monitor you to see if you need changes. some people have success with certain brands and some dont. As for how the drugs work, basically they deal with receptors in your brain, nothing dangerous. Anti depressants just work on elevating your mood by targeting receptors in your brain that might not work as well as they're suppose to be. Dont worry about how it works, spend you time focusing on getting healthy, good luck.

Answer 5

I have been diognosed with this, and i take Zoloft for it, it also works quite well for me. Depending on the seriousness or intensity of the disorder, you can take a higher dosage if needed, but if you think it isn't working for you, there are numorous perscriptions or medications you can take, also, i have found that medication is the best alternative for this because it is not something a person can be talked out of it.

Answer 6

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 7

I use weed to help. with social anxiety. When im high i dont care about what people think of me i get really social & and make people laugh.

Answer 8

You have got to seek help. There are several treatments available for your condition. There is the traditional way with mediation and there is a safe and effective alternative known as EEG biofeedback also known as neurofeedback. Do some research about it. Click on my website to learn more. There is help and you can have a normal life. But you have got to take the first step.

Answer 9

Take L-theanine. It's safe, cheap, and no prescription needed. Google it if you need more info about it. It really makes you relax =)

Answer 10

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