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How do you deal with social anxiety disorder?

What is the best way to deal with social anxiety disorder?

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    Social anxiety is a complex problem with no single solution. You need to use every tool in the psychological toolbox. If you're a severe sufferer (panic attacks, avoiding socializing entirely, adverse professional consequences etc) then definitely look into medication. Antidepressants can have a miraculous impact on social anxiety, since the underlying brain mechanisms for both are pretty much the same. It can take some trial and error to find the right meds for your particular brain chemistry, but once you get the formula right, it can be life-transforming. The benzo family (valium, ativan etc) can be helpful for emergencies or when you just need to bludgeon anxiety into submission by brute force, for a job interview or what have you. But the benzos are addictive, and you build a tolerance to them, so they're a bad long-term solution. Plenty of people out there self-medicate their social anxiety with alcohol and party drugs. Most of the time, this impulse is a pretty benign one. There's a reason we like to drink socially. But drugs and alcohol are blunt instruments, and there's the danger of becoming dependent -- there are a lot of people in this world who can't interact socially without a drink, which is a bad place to be. Cognitive approaches can work great. You might be thinking that you're the only person in the room who has an anxiety problem, that everyone else is totally at ease. But that's not true. Almost everybody in a social situation is nervous to some degree, especially when strangers are involved. Some people just conceal their anxiety better than others. Whenever you see a big, extroverted performance, you can be sure that it's overcompensating for social anxiety. Being nervous around strangers is natural and appropriate; remind yourself that everyone is in the same boat, and that people by default want to like you. Make other people feel relaxed and at ease, and they'll gratefully return the favor. Make things easy on yourself. Don't go it alone. Have a trusted friend or ally with you. Also, take breaks. One big reason people smoke cigarettes is that it's an easy pretext to get out of a room for a few minutes. Don't smoke cigarettes, though. Just excuse yourself and take a walk around the block, check your email, whatever. Your state from the neck down can affect your state from the neck up. Before going into a high-stress situation, do some exercise, yoga, deep breathing or stretching. I find just lying on the floor to be a terrific relaxation method.

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Don't tag yourself with names.  Don't take drugs.  Don't condemn yourself. Do a practical communications course that will allow you to practice and improve your communication abilities.  Such a course can be: http://www.scientologycourses.org/courses-view/communication/step/13.html

Uri Tidhar

It can be frustrating to try on your own or with someone close to you because they my criticize. I would recommend psychotherapy

Dr Michael Rubino

The most successful approaches use some variation of cognitive therapy, or behavioral therapy, or both of these, combined with graduated and increasing exposure to the feared http://situation.In my personal view the site http://socialanxietyexperts.com/ best about the social anxiety and its treatment. Thanks!! Good luck

David Jhon

If it is extreme you need a shrink, but if not you can self-socialize. If you go to the next social outing or party and PRETEND that you have none, that you are an extrovert who eats up noise, attention, and being social, over time you will become more of that person. Not a complete transformation, but enough to matter for you. Try it. Think of yourself as having been hired to be an actor for the night.

Thomas Musselman

An anxiety disorder is a physical thing that you may be born with and that is worsened by childhood trauma. Benzodiazepines like Valium are an outstandingly effective treatment for social anxiety in the short term but are addictive in the long term. Cognitive behaviour therapy and exposure therapy otherwise known as putting yourself out there (possibly on valium) are the best treatment in the long term.

Murray Robinson

Social anxiety is a highly treatable condition without the need of medications or resorting to self-medicating behaviors such as drinking alcohol or using street drugs. The method most effective is the one developed at UCLA by Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, the four-step method. There is extensive research supporting the effectiveness of this method, especially for OCD treatment, but it is just as effective with other anxiety disorders. By using the four steps of 1) relabeling, 2) reframing, 3) refocusing, and 4) revaluing the symptoms, one can achieve mastery over one's own symptoms of social anxiety and overcome the condition altogether.  The difference between taking medications (such as anti-depressants, even if they may be effective for some people) and gaining mastery over the condition is that: 1) All too often, when medication is stopped, the symptoms are very likely to return. However, mastery through Jeffrey Schwartz' four-step method, the symptoms will stay away as long as one has gained the mastery of changing one's way of thinking and behaving. 2) An anxiety disorder such as social anxiety is accompanied by a feeling of not having control over one's own thoughts and behaviors. With medication, the control is still outside the self, in the hands of medications. With the Four-step Method, mastery is regaining self-control over one's own thoughts and behaviors. For more information and getting help please go to http://www.tendingsouls.com Disclaimer: This response is for general information only and it is not meant to be used in lieu of professional medical/psychiatric/psychological treatment.

Poorang Aurasteh

I am so sorry that you are suffering from social anxiety! My friend also suffers from social anxiety, but after counseling sessions and visits with her psychologist, she was fine! The good news that there is hope! Many people suffer from social anxiety, so please do not feel like you are alone. The first step is to consult a psychologist and a counselor. A counselor can help you come up with strategies and suggestions to conquer these fears of shyness and to boost up your self-esteem. A psychologist can aid you by providing you with treatment options and other anxiety specialist. You should also talk to your guardians or care takers as soon as possible so they can help you as soon as possible! Here are some websites on social anxiety and treatment (if you need more resources) http://anxietyhelpexperts.com/

Peter Adam

My SAD is linked to my mulling habits, having the tendency to overthink every single thing in life that doesn’t matter. I discussed this with my psychiatrist and he gave me an awesome little speech, telling me that I should learn to disconnect from my thoughts. ‘’Yassine, you are not ‘your thoughts’. Your thoughts are an instrument, a limb, to be used by you, however you see fit. Start taking control of your thoughts.’’ He gave me a great analogy about how we humans are spectators, our brain is the screen, with our thoughts being the images appearing on that screen. We can not control what images appears on the screen, but we can control what image we focus on. My advise to you is to stop having your thoughts take control of you. This type of mulling habits lead to all kinds of depressions and to lowering of your self-esteem.Another thing I would recommend is to take up a hobby. Go jogging, or start writing. I have spoken to a lot of people who had this work for them!

Yassine Qalati

Not resorting to pills or alcohol is number one.  Like most things, people tend to not like putting themselves in situations that are uncomfortable.  It is just like anything, speaking in front of a crowd, confronting a boss, or going somewhere that is going to be a drag.  The only way to really get over those things, is to gain practice and experience from them.  You only got better and faster at reading, when you read a lot more, now it's a breeze.  So in short, slowly but surely put yourself in those "uncomfortable situations" and you'll learn to adjust naturally, don't force it.

Rory O'Brien

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