Social Anxiety Treatment, Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors

The signs of social anxiety disorder are more than just shyness. This is why a personalized social anxiety treatment is crucial.

Ever find yourself stressing about being judged or feeling uneasy in social gatherings? Maybe you don’t like knowing new people because of anxiety? If these symptoms have persisted for at least six months and are interfering with your daily activities, it is a possible social anxiety disorder.

The social events, for the most part, provoke anxiety or fear. The problems are either endured with anxiety or fear or avoided entirely.

Many who are looking for social anxiety disorder treatments turn to alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. Helping clients with both substance use disorders and social anxiety is a vital segment of the We Level Up Texas inpatient dual diagnosis treatment. Reclaim your life today! Call us 24/7 for a free consultation.

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Social Anxiety Treatment Options

Many patients with social anxiety disorder do not realize they have a treatable illness and, therefore, do not seek treatment. Patient education, including public education, is essential to treating and preventing this disorder.

To make the most of treatment, maintain your medical or therapy meetings, challenge yourself by establishing goals to approach social situations that cause you anxiety, take medicines as directed, and talk to your healthcare provider about any transformations in your condition.

Don’t give up if your therapy doesn’t work quickly. You can continue to attend psychotherapy for several weeks or months. Learning new skills to help manage your anxiety takes time. And uncovering the proper prescription for your case can take trial and error.

SNRIs include:

• Venlafaxine (Effexor).
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta).
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).
• Levomilnacipran (Fetzima).

If you’re struggling with anxiety, benzodiazepines might deliver fast relief, but they come with hazards, including dependency and sleepiness. For brief periods, doctors frequently prescribe them.

Beta-blockers lessen the effects of adrenaline, which is advantageous when a rapid heartbeat is a problem, such as when delivering a public speech. For persistent social anxiety, though, they’re not the recommended treatment.

Before considering any natural therapies or supplements, consult your doctor. They can guarantee their safety, and they won’t conflict with any prescription drugs you are already taking.

Social Anxiety Disorder Therapies

Psychotherapy, or talking therapy, helps people comprehend their experiences and develop effective coping methods.

There are many types of psychotherapy, including the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Interpersonal therapy.
• Psychodynamic therapy.
• Family therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a standard treatment. It aims to help individuals identify and change negative thoughts or beliefs about social situations.

Exposure therapy, or cognitively delivered exposure, can also help. With this approach, the patient gradually works up to facing the occasions they fear with a therapist and in a safe setting.

Support Groups

Many support groups operate in a way that allows participants to observe initially without feeling pressured to speak.

Members of the support groups typically establish a nonjudgmental environment by being more understanding of the difficulties connected with social anxiety. Importantly, these groups generally enable members to watch before actively engaging, installing a safe and welcoming setting. In general, social anxiety support groups provide a helpful environment where people may share their experiences and work on coping mechanisms.

If you’re struggling with anxiety disorders and substance abuse, get resources about treatment counseling today. Start getting support with a free call to our mental health and addiction hotline.

Tips on How to Get Over Social Anxiety

At first, being sociable when you’re feeling anxious is challenging. Consider practicing these situations to help you cope:

• Have a meal with a close relative, friend, or acquaintance in a public environment.
• Intentionally make eye contact and return greetings from others, or be the first to say hi or hello.
• Compliment someone.
• Ask a retail clerk to assist you in finding an item.
• Get directions from a stranger.
• Show an interest in others — ask about their homes, children, grandchildren, hobbies, or travels, for example.
• Call a friend to make plans.
• Get ready for social situations.

These additional tips can help you start to face situations that make you nervous:

• Prepare for dialogue, for instance, by reading about current events to identify exciting stories you can talk about.
• Focus on qualities you like about yourself.
• Practice relaxation workouts.
• Learn stress management strategies.
• Set realistic social goals.
• Pay attention to how often the embarrassing situations you’re afraid of occur. The scenarios you fear usually don’t come to pass.
• When embarrassing situations happen, remind yourself that your feelings will pass and you can manage them until they do. Most individuals around you either don’t notice or don’t care as much as you think, or they’re more forgiving than you presume.
• Avoid alcohol to calm your nerves. It may seem like it helps temporarily, but it can make you feel even more anxious in the long term.

Popular Jobs for People with Social Anxiety

While individuals with social anxiety may have varying comfort levels in different situations, some jobs may be more suitable for those who prefer less social interaction or a controlled and structured environment. Here’s a list of jobs to check:

• Freelance Writer/Editor.
• Graphic Designer.
• Programmer/Software Developer.
• Data Analyst/Statistician.
• Librarian.
• Archivist.
• Remote Customer Support.
• Animal Caretaker.
• Online Tutor.
• Medical Transcriptionist.
• Researcher.
• Virtual Assistant.

We Level Up Texas Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder

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