How you can recover from social phobia?

Answer 1

The first thing that will have to be considered is a lifestyle changes. These alone probably will not be enough to overcome social anxiety disorder, but they will support the overall treatment progress. The lifestyle changes that will help you reduce anxiety levels and set the stage for successful treatment are:

1. Avoid or limit caffeine, because it act as stimulant and increases anxiety symptoms;

2. Drink alcohol only in moderation. You may be tempted to drink before a party or other social situation in order to calm your nerves, but alcohol increases your risk of having an anxiety attack;

3. Quit smoking, nicotine is a powerful stimulant and smoking leads to higher levels of anxiety;

4. Get adequate sleep, because if you are sleep deprived, you are more vulnerable to anxiety.

Sometimes medication is used to relieve the symptoms of social anxiety, but it is not a cure for social phobia. When you stop taking it, the symptoms will most likely return. Medication is helpful when used in combination with therapy and other techniques that affect the roots of social anxiety disorder. There are three types of medication used in the treatment of social phobia:

1. Beta-blockers - they are used for relieving performance anxiety. They are blocking the flow of adrenaline that occurs when anxious. While beta-blockers do not affect the emotional symptoms, they control physical symptoms like shaking hands or voice, sweating, rapid heartbeat;

2. Antidepressants - they can be helpful when social anxiety disorder is severe;

3. Benzodiazepines - these are fast-acting anti-anxiety medications, but they are sedating and addictive, so they are only prescribed only when other medications for social phobia have not worked.