Will therapy help my social anxiety?
Question:
She refered me to a doc to prescribe meds but i asked her if there was any way to work through this without meds. I have been like this my whole life and don't wanna take meds the rest of it either.
my question is, is there a way to work this out through therapy or are med inevitable?
thanks!
Answers:
Meds do help many people but if you chose not to go on them that is fine! Tell your therapist that you want to try to work on this just with them for awhile! And if you change your mind later and decide to take meds thats fine too! You don't have to be on meds forever, they may just help jumpstart your progress! I was like that too! But after I hit a plateau in my progress I gave meds a try and they can really help take the edge off!
WEB MD INFO:
How Common Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder and the third most common mental disorder in the U.S., after depression and alcohol dependence. It is estimated that anywhere from 3%-13% of the population suffers from social anxiety disorder. In any year, at least 5.3 million Americans have social anxiety disorder. The disorder most often surfaces in adolescence or early adulthood, but can occur at any time, including early childhood. It is more common in women than in men.
How Is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated?
The most effective therapy currently available is cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). In some cases, medication may also be used to help ease the symptoms of social anxiety disorder so that CBT is more effective.
Cognitive-behavior therapy : The goal of CBT is to guide the person's thoughts in a more rational direction and help the person stop avoiding situations that once caused anxiety. It teaches people to react differently to the situations that trigger their anxiety symptoms. Therapy may include systematic desensitization or real life exposure to the feared situation. With systematic desensitization, the person imagines the frightening situation and works through his or her fears in a safe and relaxed environment, such as the therapist's office. Real life exposure gradually exposes the person to the situation but with the support of the therapist.
Medication: There are several different types of medications used to treat social anxiety disorder, including: antidepressants, like Paxil; tranquilizers (benzodiazepines), such as Xanax, Librium, Valium, and Ativan; beta-blockers, often used to treat heart conditions, may also be used to minimize certain physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking and rapid heartbeat.
Counseling to improve self-esteem and social skills, as well as relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, may also help a person deal with social anxiety disorder.
What Is the Outlook for People With Social Anxiety Disorder?
The outlook is generally good with treatment. Many people recover and enjoy more productive lives.
Can Social Anxiety Disorder Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, social anxiety disorder cannot be prevented, but seeking help as soon as symptoms surface can help make treatment more effective.
Good Luck! I'm in your shoes and therapy has helped me greatly! Feel Better Soon!
I would not take her advice myself. I would get a second opinion out of state. There are too many natural ways to cope with this problem. Stay off the Medications.
See social anxiety, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris... on page 9.
Therapy will help. Statistically, the most effective method is talk-therapy and medication, but medication is completely your choice. You should still see a doctor though, because it is a medical condition, but you can explain to him or her that you are choosing not to take medication.
Why don't you want to take medication? I have been on medication for a few years now and I feel it had really helped me. I figure, I brush my teeth everyday, I take a shower everyday...what's the big deal about taking a pill everyday if it helps keep me healthy?
But you can receive effective treatment without medication also.
I was diagnosed with anxiety back in november, but have suffered from it til now about a little over a year. i am only twenty years old, but dont really know why i started getting this but just to make a long story short, it kept on getting worse and worse each time. i didnt have any thing in particular to fear but just simple, irrational thoughts would give me a panic attack. I did my research about all this condition and found out that not only do i have anxiety but also panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder as well. one of my biggest problems are the feelings of unreality. Or another example would be a headache or a stomach ache. " o my god! what if its a brain tumor! Or what if its my appendix?!!" seconds later-- PANIC ATTACK!! and then in mid december I was lucky enough to find a book called Panic Away and it helped alot instantly, I cant wait to let my doctors know that my solution was not the lexapro or the Klonopin.
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