There are many people who feel nervous in particular social scenarios. If you are going out on a date or need to attend an interview for a job, you may well get that butterfly in the stomach feeling. This type of nervousness is not social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder treatment is available for those who know that they suffer from this disorder.
There are several emotional, behavioral and physical signs or symptoms that sufferers of this disorder will display. There will be an extreme dread of being caught in a situation with anyone they do not know. They are constantly fearful of being demeaned or shamed. The physical signs that they will encounter include muscle tension, shaking, trembling, profuse sweating, confusion and nausea. They generally suffer with low self-worth and show weakness in confidence. They display extreme sensitivity to criticism and lack social skills.
This disorder will normally be a lifelong situation. The intense feelings will wax and wane. There is treatment available that will enable you to control the symptoms. It will also allow you to become more confident and be more relaxed in social situations.
There are medications available that have been proven to be very effective. These include serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and these are thought to be the safest and most effective. Antidepressants are also used. Anti-anxiety medication will reduce your level of anxiety, but they can be habit forming and should be used for short periods only.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is regularly used as a method of treatment. It is very often used together with drug administration. It is a psycho-therapeutic approach that aims to rectify impressed patterns of negative thoughts, ideas and behaviors. It will help you to learn and to use new thinking skills in an effort to modify the negative thoughts you have about yourself.
This therapeutic method might also include exposure therapy. In this case, you will gradually work up to face those situations you are most fearful of. It allows you to become skilled at coping with these fearful situations and you will learn to develop the confidence to face them. Role-playing or skills training may also be included in your therapy. This will help you gain confidence and practice your social skills in relation to others. Stress management or relaxation techniques might also be included.
Dependent upon your particular set of circumstances, you might consider some self-help solutions. In the case where one of your fears is integration in a public area, you may attempt to invite someone you know to a meal or a drink in a public place. Taking one small step at a time will help with that final big step.
Social anxiety disorder treatment is obtainable even for those people who don’t know how to get help. Get natural anxiety relief by following effective and simple methods and techniques.