How To Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder can turn a fun night with friends or a trip to the grocery store into an anxiety-ridden battle. Fortunately, a psychiatrist can help clients suffering from social phobia manage their symptoms and regain control of their lives. This article will explore what social anxiety is and how to treat it.

What is social anxiety disorder?

Social anxiety disorder, also known as “SAD” or “social phobia,” causes excessive worry and panic regarding social situations. There are many causes; it is generally the result of a combination of biological and environmental factors. Mental disorders tend to run in families, and exposure to a family member’s anxious behaviors and temperament can increase one’s risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Further, negative experiences (such as bullying or trauma and abuse), overwhelming work demands, and other environmental factors can result in an anxiety disorder.

No matter the cause, the symptoms can be isolating and debilitating. It can make it difficult to interact with people, make eye contact, and hold or start a conversation. A person with social anxiety disorder may also experience the following symptoms leading up to, during, or after a social situation:

• Overthinking
• Blushing
• Nausea
• Stomachaches
• Excessive sweating
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling tense or uncomfortable

These symptoms can be intense to the point that a person decides to avoid social settings altogether. This can disrupt one’s education, social life, and even career. Other complications include a lack of social skills, poor self-esteem, people-pleasing, and substance abuse.

Social anxiety treatments

To develop a social anxiety treatment plan, a psychiatrist will assess one’s symptoms, triggers, and medical history. Often, the most effective treatment plans combine prescription medication and therapy.

Psychotherapy

Various types of psychotherapy can be helpful in treating social anxiety disorder. Some of the most common are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Each of these treatment methods aims to help the client reassess how they respond to anxious thought patterns, either replacing them with healthier ones or teaching how to respond to them in a healthy way.

Prescription medications

Although therapy alone may be effective, many clients find it helpful to add prescription medication to their treatment plan. Medication can make one’s social anxiety symptoms less severe, which in turn makes it easier to undergo therapy. A psychiatrist may recommend one of the following medications to help a person through CBT, DBT, exposure therapy, or another type of psychotherapy:

• Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like paroxetine or sertraline are the most common antidepressants prescribed for social phobia. Some clients benefit from other antidepressants, such as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
• Anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines): These act faster than antidepressants, but they are typically only used as a single dose to prevent an anxiety attack or symptom flare-up.
• Beta-blockers: Similar to benzodiazepines, beta-blockers may be used to prevent a symptom flare-up, such as if the client has a work party, job interview, or other triggering event to attend.