Social Anxiety Medication
Social anxiety disorder, which people are not very aware of is very common. It occurs when people fear that they are being noticed by everyone and they are scared to embarrass or humiliate themselves. They want to avoid social situations so that they don’t have to face such tensions of being introduced to people, especially strangers.
Getting nervous before a speech or an interview, scared to converse in a large group of people etc are all normal situations till they start to interfere your life. Social anxiety disorder can have both physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms include shaky voice, upset stomach, irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, sweating and trembling etc. However, the psychological symptoms take in intense worry of a social event days, weeks and months before it, extreme fear of being watched and judged by people and getting excessively self-conscious.
When your symptoms remain no more in control and you have to completely avoid out going situations because of your social anxiety, then its time that you get yourself checked with a doctor and take up some medicines. Medication can help you relieve your anxiety a great deal but it is not the complete cure for it. Therapy and some lifestyle changes accompanied by medicines can help you overcome your social anxiety easily. Some lifestyle changes that you are required to do are avoiding smoking, alcohol and caffeine and get proper sleep.
Medicines that are used to treat social anxiety disorder are divided into three major classes; beta blockers, antidepressants and benzodiazepines. The beta blockers are prescribed to patients to help calm the physical symptoms of social anxiety. They are used one or half an hour before a social anxiety provoking situation. Names of beta blockers used are Propanolol and Atenolol. However, the side effects involved are difficult sleep, lethargy, slow heart rate, nausea and lightheadedness etc. After the beta blockers, certain antidepressants are prescribed for social anxiety.
Serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin selective noreprenephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) come under the category of antidepressants. SSRIs affect the attentiveness of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which plays a role in causing anxiety. SNRIs are now not commonly prescribed but MAOIs are antidepressants that prevent the breakdown of certain neurotransmitters. The Benzodiazepines are prescribed when no other medicine has showed its effect on the patient. They include Prazepam, Flurazepam, Triazolam and Oxazepam etc. They are habit forming.
Whenever choosing any type of medicine for your treatment, do consult a doctor and make yourself of every side effect containing in it.
Social Anxiety Disorder
MYTH: If you have Social Anxiety Disorder, your only option is psychoactive medication. FACT: People who take anti-anxiety medication often find them helpful in addressing symptoms.
Symptoms of Anxiety Panic Attacks
However, almost all of anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication has some side effects we do not want. We still have to take them in order to see if they can help or not.
treating social anxiety or anxiety in general?
Real world experiences only please — not what you read off a website Buspar was created for general anxiety. I worked for the company that made it, but I haven’t taken it.
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