Beyond Anxiety and Depression - Social Anxiety

5 Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment Options

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:08:38 +0000

Social anxiety can be defined as fear, emotional discomfort or apprehension about social situations. This phobia can wreak havoc with an affected person's interpersonal interactions leading to irrational fear of participating in social activities. So, what treatment options are available for people suffering from this disorder? Come; let's get into the particulars of treating this psychological condition.

1 CHANGING NEGATIVE THINKING

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

This therapy helps one to identify different situations that provoke the anxiety. It basically takes a direct approach to the problem such that the more you face it, the more you get to know how to deal with it. There are several types of CBT that can be used in the treatment of social anxiety. These include:

Exposure Therapy

In exposure therapy, a professional guides you to imagine you are facing a particular social situation. As you consistently get exposed to this situation, you'll gradually find the fear fading away.

Social Skill Training

Through this therapy, one is taught how to develop various social skills through role playing. Once one is adequately prepared to deal with the specific anxiety trigger, they are able to avoid social anxiety.

Cognitive Restructuring

Cognitive restructuring encourages for positive thinking in stopping unwanted thoughts.

Symptom Management Skills-Symptom management therapy helps one to reduce stress through physical responses such as breathe control.
Supportive Therapy- In order to fully recover from social anxiety, social support is ultimately important. Through supportive therapy, one is introduced to various support groups whereby they get to meet other people with similar conditions. Family therapy also forms an integral part of this approach.

2 MEDICATION

SSRIs-Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (commonly known as SSRIs) are known to relieve anxiety. They are one of the most commonly prescribed forms of medication.
MAOIs-Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are also prescribed for dealing with anxiety and depression. However, MAOIs have serious side effects if taken with red wine or cheese.
Beta-blockers- These are used in the treatment of some physical symptoms of anxiety e.g rapid heart rate.

3 HERBAL REMEDIES

Herbs contain natural composition of various chemical compounds that affect our heart, brain as well as other internal organs. Some of the best known herbal remedies for SAD include:

Passion Flower-Passion flower is rich in active components that help reduce social anxiety and occasional nervousness. It helps soothe the mind with its non drowsy sedative compounds.
Chamomile-Chamomile is very efficient in treating social anxiety without causing drowsiness. Its active compounds soothe the nerves and calm the mind thus relieving tension, restlessness and anxiety.
Winter Cherry-Also known as Ashwagandha root, this herb has been used for ages in the treatment of anxiety, depressed moods and mental fatigue.
Feverfew-Another good herbal remedy for SAD is this popular stress relaxant. It basically works by inhibiting the release of migraine onsetting substances.
Lavender-Lavender is one of the most effective essential oils in aroma therapy. It produces a smooth, calming and relaxing smell that can be used to stop anxiety. Apart from relaxing your body, lavender is also used as a general health tonic for the body nervous system.

4 EXERCISES

Regular exercise can decrease anxiety. Normally, when you exercise, the levels of adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormones) are lowered. You get used to physical sensations that are closely associated with the onset of anxiety e.g sweating and pounding of the heart. Thus exercises help you to see these sensations as a normal thing rather than a result of tension. Some of the best exercises that you can indulge in include: Breathing exercises, yoga and cardiovascular exercises.

5 SELF HELP STRATEGIES

Self help strategies are used to complement the effectiveness of other treatment options. These consist of: learning the facts about anxiety; building an individual strategy and working on bravery. Without these strategies, all the other treatment options discussed above cannot deliver the expected results. Social anxiety is an individual thing and if one wishes to make a transition, they need to start by training their minds and body on how to adapt to different social situations.

Just to summarize, there are no fixed ways of dealing with SAD. There also exists a difference in the treatment of anxiety disorder in adults and in children. Therefore, if you or your friend suffers from this disorder, consult a qualified psychologist to seek a complete and quick recovery.

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Social Anxiety Treatment: how you can Live the Life you Deserve

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:06:38 +0000

I have always struggled with shyness. It has been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember. I have always struggled to sit on the sidelines while I watch other groups of soccer moms get together for coffee and playdates after practices. I have always been the lone woman in the bleachers with my nose buried into a book rather than attempt to strike up a conversation with other parents. The few relationships I have made are strained, and occasionally people will tell me they were afraid to talk to me because they thought I was rude or just a plain old snob. What they didn't realize is that I was struggling with social anxiety. Instead of living life, I had been fearing situations where I may be forced to interact. If you find yourself doing the same things I did, then you are most likely suffering from social anxiety as well. The good news is, you CAN live the life you deserve. You don't have to sit on the sidelines or feel excluded if you take a few steps toward building your confidence and practicing interactions with people on a regular basis.

Rule # 1:

Don't allow yourself to be in a position where you don't have to interact with people regularly. I allowed this to happen when I left the work force to be a stay at home mom. I spent all my time with my husband and children. The few friendships I had dwindled as I saw other people less and less frequently. Before I knew it, I had become somewhat of a recluse. When I was working, I built relationships with coworkers and other people who I interacted with regularly. I was better at interacting with others outside of my family. Socializing is definitely a use it or lose it skill, and when I stopped working, I did nothing to forge new relationships with anybody else. Make sure you do SOMETHING that encourages interactions with people. Whether it is signing up for a painting class, joining a book club, or even a parenting group, you HAVE to continue to interact with other people, or else you will find yourself withdrawing more.

Rule # 2:

Strike up a conversation. I know how hard this can be, but it is something that can certainly make the difference between allowing yourself to become the snob or the rude person and becoming a friendly face. Starting a conversation and maintaining a conversation can definitely be difficult, particularly if you have been out of practice for quite some time. You may be terrified that you will start up a conversation by asking somebody a question, they will answer it, and then there is nothing left but awkward silence. While this is sometimes the case, and you may not "click" and have an easily flowing conversation every single time, it is worth a shot to try, and you will get practice by doing this. Come up with a mental list of things to say or responses. Come up with more questions to get the other person talking so that you can find some common ground or a relatable experience. Conversation is an art and it does take practice to become good at it. Some people have this gift naturally. Others, like me, struggle with the "gift of gab", and often leave conversations trailing in uncomfortable silences and awkward moments. But the more you practice talking with other people, the easier it becomes. And when you learn enough about somebody through striking up conversations, before you know it you have a friendly face in a sea of strangers.

Rule # 3:

Smile! It seems almost impossible to do sometimes. But when you sit with an impassive look on your face, or bury your face in a book, your knitting, or on your phone, people will think you are benevolent at best. By smiling (in a non-clownish or creepy way, of course), you become more inviting. Somebody else just may strike up a conversation with you if you can't bring yourself to start one yourself. A smile makes you more welcoming, and appear happier and frienly, and thereby more approachable. A smile alone can make you far more likeable.

Social anxiety can completely send a person reeling. It can make a person feel like they are an alien when they have to interact with other people. When people suffer from social anxiety, they may find themselves making excuses to not have to go to a spouse's company picnic, or to go on a getaway with some friends and their family. It can cause you to stop living life and instead spend time working on how to avoid situations where you may have to talk to another person in a setting outside of your house. Social anxiety can literally ruin lives. You can live the life you deserve to live, however, by taking small steps to overcome social anxiety. It may seem impossible at first, but by putting yourself out there and forcing yourself to interact with other people in a social setting, you can gain and maintain the skills necessary to help you overcome your social anxiety. Before you know it, you may be the life of the party!

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Shyness and Social Anxiety: How to Overcome Social Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:04:19 +0000

For those of us who suffer from social anxiety, any social situation can be a harrowing experience. Social anxiety is a disorder that causes you to feel fearful when you are exposed to social situations. Each case of social anxiety is different, so some sufferers may only experience overwhelming social anxiety when put into a public speaking situation. Others, however, may feel fear during a typical, everyday conversation. While social anxiety isn't always debilitating, it can have a powerful effect on people. Over time it may make someone afraid to leave their house and lead to other disorders like agoraphobia. In this article, we'll outline some tips on how to overcome social anxiety. Like any other disorder, with patience, diligence, and devotion, you can learn to overcome social anxiety.

Tip #1: Accept your social anxiety A key part in overcoming any disorder or mental roadblock is becoming aware that it exists. You may know already that you are uncomfortable in social situations, but only when you've accepting that the underlying reason for this is the disorder known as social anxiety will you begin to address it. Sometimes accepting you have social anxiety simply involves discovering this, but in other situations pride or emotional attachments may make it difficult for you to admit that you have social anxiety. Once you've identified social anxiety as the root of your problems, you'll be ready to begin working to remedy it.

Tip #2: Find someone to talk to A key step in learning how to overcome social anxiety in your life is to find a confidante. Having someone you trust who you can talk to about your social anxiety issues is invaluable. It's also helpful if they have some knowledge about the subject. This is why many people turn to a psychologist in order to help them overcome their social anxiety. A therapist has been trained in methods to heal your social anxiety and also has a firm foundation of knowledge about your disorder. Another good confidante might be a fellow social anxiety sufferer, or someone who at least experiences shyness. This will give them a background that will allow them to understand your situation.

Tip #3: Practice ways of staying calm One of the key aspects of learning how to overcome social anxiety involves learning ways to calm your body down. Physical anxiety is an important element of social anxiety. While many of us tend to equate anxiety with only thought processes, it is frequently the case that the anxious feelings actually originate in the body. Then, the mind exacerbates them by focusing on them. Thus, if you can learn techniques to use to calm your body they often can vastly improve your ability to manage social anxiety. Common methods include diaphragmatic breathing and self-relaxation. With practice, you can calm yourself as easily as you could with prescription medicine.

Tip #4: Learn new thought patterns Social anxiety often revolves around patterns of thinking that are called cognitive distortions. These thoughts are irrational, and cause thoughts to "snowball", essentially becoming more and more irrational and anxiety-producing. Thus, a key part of learning how to overcome social anxiety is identifying these thoughts when they occur and learning ways to stop them dead in their tracks. Irrational thoughts come in several forms. One common type is catastrophic thinking. For example, someone who is engaging in catastrophic thinking might believe that a group of friends are going to hate her because she pronounced a word incorrectly at a dinner. This thought is exaggerating the truth, and could produce an incessant stream of anxious thoughts that tend to be deprecating and critical. Learning how to recognize these thoughts and stop them before they can cause further harm is important.

Tip #5: Make peace with your imperfections Often, those who suffer from social anxiety may be comparing their social skills to an ideal. The truth, however, is that they may never be able to reach this ideal and comparing themselves to a smooth-talking conversationalist might be unfair. Instead it might be helpful to accept that they are not the most gregarious person, but that they can accept this shortcoming because they have strengths in other areas. Making this peace with yourself is a key step in learning how to overcome social anxiety.

Social anxiety is difficult for anyone to deal with, but it can be overcome. With strong motivation and patience, you can do anything. Start with the steps listed above and be on your way to a stress-free life today!

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Options for How to Treat Social Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:03:14 +0000

Feeling nervous about certain social situations such as public speaking is quite normal. However, when you have social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, everyday social interactions could cause a lot of anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment that exceeds what would be considered normal. In fact, a person living with this condition has an intense fear of interacting with strangers and constantly worries about being in a humiliating or embarrassing situation. This is the kind of anxiety that disrupts your daily routine and prevents you from enjoying any activity that involves other people. The good news is that there are several treatment options available today for how to control anxiety.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that involves modifying your thought and behavior patterns in order to influence your emotions positively to address what casues anxiety for you. Three techniques that are commonly used in the treatment of social anxiety disorder are social skill training, exposure and cognitive restructuring.Social skills training involves different exercises such as role-playing or modeling. It is meant to train the patient to learn appropriate social behavior which should ultimately decrease anxiety. However, this treatment is meant for those with deficits in social interaction in addition to SAD.Exposure involves imagining the action or social situation that causes you to be anxious and gradually working your way to being physically present in such situations.Cognitive restructuring is meant to help patients identify and deal with negative thoughts by evaluating them and then constructing alternative positive thoughts to counter them.

Psychodynamic therapy is another treatment option in which the therapist attempts to elicit the patient's underlying emotions in order to help him or her work through them. This form of treatment is especially helpful when a person has a deep unresolved reason for the anxiety.

Medication

There are several medications that are available for the treatment of SAD. However, it is important to note that each has its pros and cons depending on your particular situation, which is why self-medicating is ill-advised. In addition, medication for SAD treatment is often combined with psychotherapy or professional counseling for optimal effectiveness. The most commonly used medications include:Benzodiazepines: These are mile tranquilizers that have a sedative effect on the brain. They are meant to prevent or reduce the symptoms of anxiety.Beta-blockers: This medication should be taken orally before a performance in order to reduce the expected anxiety symptoms that you usually experience in such a situation. Beta-blockers are generally preferred to benzodiazepines since they do not adversely affect the mental sharpness of the patient. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: These were once believed to be the most effective medications for treating SAD. However, studies have shown that they could have very serious side effects. It is for this reason that they are generally not considered unless other medications have failed.

Alternative Treatments

Some people prefer to keep away from chemical medication in favor of natural forms of treatment. However, it should be noted that most alternative treatments do not have scientific proof of their efficacy. Some of the natural anxiety remedies that are available include dietary supplement, hypnotherapy and aromatherapy.

Dietary supplements and herbal remedies for anxiety such as chamomile, kava kava and passion flower are used in combination with other forms of treatment such as CBT.

Hypnotherapy: The goal of this form of treatment is to separate the memory of the traumatic experience believed to have caused the anxiety disorder.

Aromatherapy: Lavender is believed to enhance a person's mental health and is used to help you relax and alleviate anxiety.

Self-Help Strategies

Self-help strategies for the treatment of SAD work by complementing other forms of treatment. These strategies are most helpful to those dealing with mild symptoms of the condition that only bother them occasionally. Ideally, these techniques, which include slow breathing, are meant to be a starting point toward receiving further treatment and provide you with the tools for how to be more social.

The most appropriate treatment for social anxiety disorder will be determined by the severity of your physical and emotional symptoms as well as how well you are able to function. It is also important to note that while some people respond well to initial treatment, others require some form of support throughout their lives. At the end of the day, it is important to go for the treatment option that allows you to enjoy a normal life as much as possible.

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How to Cure Social Anxiety - 7 steps to a Better Life

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:02:06 +0000

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from some form of social anxiety, then even the most basic interactions with others can be an extremely painful experience. One major problem is that people tend to suffer alone due to the very nature of the problem, but there are a number of things that someone can do in order to try and even partly overcome the problem and what follows are seven steps that may indeed make a difference to a sufferer.

1. Practice thinking positively

By thinking positively even at home when alone it will eventually train the mind away from only ever considering the negative things that may happen as this tends to lead to the start of the anxiety. A problem is that people tend to over analyse things and will concentrate on the one negative thing out of 99 positives so over time there has to be a shift in the mindset and this can only be done through practice.

2. Stop comparing yourself to others

You are an individual and think differently and also act differently to everybody else out there. A problem with people who suffer from social anxiety is a belief that they are going to be talking to people who are better than them and they worry about situations that may arise from it. However, by trying to stop comparing yourself to them it will make the situation seem as if it is more in your control and you will be able to handle it so much better.

3. Try to like yourself and your own strengths

Sit down and make a list of your own strengths and weaknesses and compare them to see how they match up. You should then concentrate on your strengths and realise that you are capable of various wonderful things and that you will be better at it than people you will encounter on a day to day basis. Never stop praising yourself even for the smallest of achievements even if it is just going to the shop and saying good morning as this builds your confidence and the belief that you will then have in yourself.

4. Give yourself attainable goals to aim for and achieve them

By setting goals for yourself you can slowly build up your belief that you can indeed deal with various social situations, but do so in your own time. Make a note of situations that you do not like and grade them according to how uncomfortable you feel and then set yourself a target of beating one of the easier ones by a certain date. When you do so always congratulate yourself and reward yourself before moving on to the next one on your life and over time you will conquer your fears.

5. Never avoid those difficult situations

One of the things you should never do is avoid those situations that make you feel the most uncomfortable as this will only ever have a negative impact and will make it harder to overcome the condition. You will gain a lot more out of it if you stand there and tough it out, but when the situation is over do look at what your feelings were with it, how you reacted, and how you feel after it along with praising yourself for having survived.

6. Make sure you sleep well every night

A lack of sleep can lead to people feeling more anxious due to the brain and body being tired. You should, therefore, look at making sure you get more than enough sleep every single day as you will be less stressed as a result and more capable of handling various situations.

7. Practice relaxation methods that work for you

If you know you are going to have to face your fears at some point, then it is worth working out the relaxation method that works best for you and put it into practice before you know you will start to feel the anxiety build. This may involve you doing some yoga, meditation, or even just listening to certain songs, but the idea is to calm your mind and body so that adrenaline stops rushing through it and reducing the stress you feel. You will then be in a far better position to deal with whatever it is you need to face and will be able to overcome your social anxiety.

Those are, therefore, just seven steps that someone who suffers from social anxiety may want to try in order to potentially get a breakthrough in the condition and start to live something that resembles a normal life. It may indeed be a long and difficult road, but by taking things at a pace that is suitable for the sufferer there is no reason to believe that they will not be able to get back some of their life and enjoy what it can bring.

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Take the Social Anxiety Test

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:55:15 +0000

When you take the social anxiety test, you prevent yourself from being ruined by your social phobia. This condition is characterized by emotional discomfort, worry or irrational fear of social situations, such as being scrutinized or evaluated by other people. It is one of the most common anxiety disorders and it affects millions of people each year in the United State alone. Many people don't seem to know that they already have social phobia which makes their condition left untreated. When you take the social anxiety test, you will know if you're suffering from this condition or not.

Taking the social anxiety disorder test is definitely not fun but it's a very important step in seeking treatment for the disorder. By following these simple steps, you can take the test with a relaxed mind so your condition can be assessed properly.

1.By taking the test, you acknowledge the fact that something must be wrong with your behavior towards the society. It's important to be truthful during the test and you should answer all concerns with honesty. Being dishonest to yourself may cause your condition to be misdiagnosed to be non-existent, thus preventing you to seek further treatment. By honestly answering the concerns, you can have an insight as to whether you have social anxiety disorder or not.

2.You need to understand that you are not risking anything when you take the social anxiety test. Don't assume that if the result of this simple challenge will be unfavorable for you, then it will be the end of your world. If you think that you're not endangering anything as you take the test, then you can be in the relax state. Set your mind that if you're able to confirm that you are suffering from social phobia, there are several options available to treat your condition.

3.Throughout the duration of the test, you can find two answers that are difficult to discern which one is wrong and which is right. Simply mark the one that you find most true based on your situation and don't be hard on yourself when you decide. Don't spend a long time trying to analyze answers. The more you analyze, the more your analysis gets deep into your intellect rather than your gut. Your gut easily tells the truth, but your intellect allows you to do away with just about anything.

4.Do not self-diagnose before you take the social anxiety test and don't worry about having someone know you're taking the test. When you take the test, it doesn't necessarily mean that are suffering from social phobia. Obviously, the reason why it is named a test is because it puts you to a test in order to determine whether or not you have the disorder.

5.If you find out after the test that you are suffering from social phobia, don't stop there. Seek the appropriate treatment to get rid of the condition. Being in constant fear of mingling with the people around you who actually don't intend to do you any harm is like putting yourself in a confined space. Seeking treatment for your condition is the best way to free your mind from your irrational worry and fear.

When you have social phobia and you take the social anxiety test, you are not curing the condition at all. However, the test plays a very important role in assessing your condition so you will be able to know the potential cause of the disorder, the triggers of your phobia and the potential remedy for the condition.

After knowing that you're suffering from social anxiety disorder, you're now ready to undergo treatment. One option is medication which includes taking drugs prescribed by a qualified physician. The advantage of this treatment is that it requires less effort at your end and you don't need to attend healing procedures and counseling sessions. The major disadvantage could be the ill side effects of the drugs since you'll be taking pharmaceutical or artificial medications. Also, its relaxing effect may be temporary and you will tend to be dependent on the drugs. When you stop taking medicines, the panic attacks will reoccur. You can try psychotherapy, hypnotherapy or other alternative methods to treat your condition forever so you won't have to take the social anxiety test ever again.

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Social Anxiety

What to Expect with a Social Anxiety Disorder Test (SAD)

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:54:05 +0000

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is something a lot of people suffer from. Even if you don't suffer from it personally, someone you know probably does. If you aren't sure whether or not you have this disorder, there is a way to figure it out. You first have to take a social anxiety disorder test, which can actually be found online. These are free and ask you all the questions that will determine whether or not you have social anxiety.

What to expect when taking the Social Anxiety Disorder test?

1. Questions

The questions that are asked on the test are personal. Don't answer what you think will sound good, be honest. This is important if you want to get the most accurate results that are possible. There will be a wide variety of things asked, so take your time with your responses. Most of them are going to be yes or no answers.

Some questions to expect include: Are you scared people will judge you? and, Do you know that your fear is unreasonable? There will also be questions about how you feel when in certain situations. The way your body responds is very important when it comes to diagnosis.

2. Results

Know that taking an online test can give you a lot of insight about your personality, but it is not a replacement for a therapist. It's always important to see a licensed physician when you want to get advice about a disorder you might have. They can then give you advice about what different treatment options are out there. They can also tell you what traits of your personality contribute to the social anxiety.

Where to Find a Test?

Tip 1. Taking one online is something you can do in the privacy of your own home. Not to mention it's also absolutely free to do this. There are a lot of different tests available on various websites. These lay out the questions so you can click to answer them. Once you are finished, the results will be listed on the next page. All tests are going to be different, so keep that in mind when you're taking them.

Tip 2. Therapist will also give you social anxiety disorder tests when you go in to see them. Your responses will give them a good idea about what your emotional range is like. The answers will also offer insight to other disorders you might have. Just because you think you have this disorder doesn't mean you do. There are a lot of different disorders that deal with anxiety, so seeing a professional is always going to be the best choice.

What are the benefits of taking a test?

1. When you take the social anxiety disorder test you will find out a lot about yourself. Some people go through life thinking that feeling a lot of anxiety is normal, when it really is not. When you take the test and learn what emotions you have that you shouldn't be experiencing, you can learn how to correct them. There are a wide variety of treatment methods out there that can be very effective.

2. After getting the treatment for the disorder, you will start to feel a lot better. Most people are able to start really living their lives for the first time in a long time. You won't have to avoid certain situations, you can meet new people and do things you never thought you would. A lot of doors open up when there isn't social anxiety waiting there to stop you.

3. The test doesn't require you to give blood or do anything strenuous. All you have to do is answer the questions to the best of your ability. Those simple responses can make a huge difference with the way a therapist views you when you go through treatment. It can mean finally being able to balance out those emotions and feel great! The test is well worth taking because it's so easy and simple.

Having social anxiety can be a hindrance for many people. If you find out you have this, then there are a lot of things you can do to correct it! It's not the end of the world to have anxiety about different social situations. With time and treatment you can become the person you always wanted to be.

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Learn How to Get Over Social Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:51:59 +0000

Feeling anxious before a speech or performing in front of a crowd is common for everyone. Social anxiety comes in when you feel anxious most of the time in social situations. You may have feelings of inferiority, self consciousness, and even depression. People who have this condition usually fear being judged, humiliated, and embarrassed by other people. This disorder creates a void in your life. You miss out on opportunities at home, at work, and social settings. It's important that you overcome this condition for a better quality of life. Here are some steps to help you get started in overcoming social anxiety.

Recognize and acknowledge the signs and symptoms of social anxiety.

Do you feel emotional distress when you're teased, criticized, or being introduced to other people? Do you feel nervous, have sweaty palms, and accelerated pulse rate when you're about to speak in public, meet important people, or asked to lead a project? Do you turn red and have difficulty swallowing when a person tries to get to know you better? All these physical manifestations all point at social anxiety. When you recognize what situations specifically stress you out, you'll have a better insight to what your needs are in dealing with your condition.

Resolve to make a commitment with yourself to address your problem.

There are highly successful treatments available for people who want to make their lives better and anxiety free. After recognizing and accepting your condition, your best chance to turn things around is to commit to a treatment. Carrying through a treatment no matter how difficult it is or how repetitive it gets is not easy but is something only you can and must, do.

Help yourself and allow other people to help you.

Find ways to help yourself outside your treatment. Read up on your condition, put tips and techniques to action. Practice what you've learned with the help of family and friends. It might be counter intuitive for someone who has social anxiety to do this but believe that your family and friends are more than willing to help out. They also know you firsthand and what you're going through so you don't have to fear rejection and being judged.

Allow yourself to fail.

Most of what drives people to feel anxious is the fear of failure. Society and media has led us to believe that everything must be perfect, that you should always give an outstanding presentation; if you speak publicly it has to be wonderful and pithy. Well, the truth is a large percentage of the population fail all the time. No one is perfect and what you perceive as perfection happens with hard work and practice. Accept that project your boss asked you to put together; don't pass up on that opportunity and other opportunities that come your way. Do your best and if you fail, don't beat up yourself over it because it's normal and it's healthy. Failure allows you to assess your strengths and weakness and helps you become better.

Reach out to people.

One of the best ways to work on your social anxiety is to join a supportive group who understands your condition and help you towards taking steps to conquer your fears. You can also explore your interests and join groups that allow you to share your creativity. If you love books, join a book readers club. If you love crafting, look for groups or community networks that you can tap. Volunteer your time and expertise in the community; it's a great way of connecting with people in a relaxed environment.

Break down anxiety triggers and deal with them in bite sized pieces.

When you're anxious in a social situation, everything becomes overwhelming. Breaking down your stress triggers make them manageable and keeps you in control of yourself. For instance, a big party crowd is a sure-fire way to stress you out. Why not start meeting people through friends first and gradually meet more people.

Learn how to control physical symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety has a nasty way of showing itself. You get nervous, you blush, and you can barely breathe! Not knowing how to diffuse these physical symptoms can lead to a downward spiral. Breathing and relaxation techniques help you calm down. Also try yoga, meditation, and muscle relaxation, they all help you control the physical symptoms of social anxiety

Live a healthy lifestyle.

Avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants helps control social anxiety. When your body is in top physical shape, you have an easier time dealing with your condition. Getting plenty of rest and proper sleep, as well as moderate physical activity all help you deal better in social situations.

Overcoming social anxiety is no walk in the park. Expect setbacks but know that these are normal. The road towards having control over your condition might be difficult but with the right guidance and mindset, you can achieve it.

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6 Important Methods on How To Deal With Social Anxiety

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:51:08 +0000

Social anxiety can influence your relationships, career, and life in a negative way. You may want to deal with it by avoiding situations that cause the anxiety, but if you want to conquer it, and start to enjoy people and social interactions, then you are going to have to get a little uncomfortable. Pushing out of your comfort zone is the only way to conquer your fears and anxieties. Following are 6 methods on how to deal with social anxiety.

1. Change Your Self-Talk

You can help to minimize your social anxiety by talking to yourself differently. For example, instead of saying "This is going to be bad!" you can tell yourself that you are going to have fun, feel good, and enjoy the experience. Positive self-talk may feel weird or untrue at first, but it will have a positive influence on how you think about situations.

It is likely that your social anxiety starts because of a thought that paints a scary picture. Your thoughts have a huge impact on your emotions and anxieties. Try to keep your thoughts in check (no matter how much your inner-self tries to disagree) by changing the way you talk to yourself.

2. Use Your Imagination

If you don't feel brave enough to jump into a social situation yet, then you may want to pretend that you are in a social situation that scares you. This type of therapy is often called systematic desensitization, and it can help you to deal with your social anxiety by facing your fears in a new light.

When you imagine yourself in the situation, try viewing positive results. Happy faces, positive reactions, and everything going smoothly are all examples of good social interactions that you should be picturing.

3. Exposure To Real Social Situations

Facing your social anxiety head on may be one of the best ways to deal with it. It can help you to become more comfortable in social situations and gain self-confidence that removes your anxiety.

However, you do not want to initially throw yourself into a huge social event, as this can be overwhelming and cause you to hightail it out of the room. Instead, you should gradually expose yourself to social events starting with a few people and working your way up to larger crowds.

You can make eye contact with a stranger, talk to someone who intimidates you, or talk to a stranger while you wait for your coffee. There are many ways you can expose yourself to social situations without going to a big party or event. Every time you force yourself to interact, you will be decreasing your anxiety just a little. Don't stop attempting to face your anxiety. Persistence and consistency is the key to dealing with your social anxiety.

4. Explore Music and Sound Therapy

Music therapy is the controlled use of music to help with many issues, including anxiety. Music can help you calm down when you start to feel anxious. Research suggests that music and sounds can produce endorphins that relax muscles, alleviate stress, and promote a positive mood.

First, you have to find a song, genre, or beat that produces a relaxing feeling in you, and then you will be able to utilize it repeatedly when anxious feelings start to arise.

Sounds can also be used to relax and calm down during anxious times. Birds chirping, water moving, and wind blowing by are all sounds that our minds can easily focus on and use to relax. Even something as loud as a train can have a calming effect on someone who views it as soothing.

5. Join a Support Group

Sharing how you feel with like-minded people can help you discover ways to break out of your social anxiety that you may not have discovered elsewhere. Because the idea of attending a support group may actually bring about social anxiety, you may want to join a support group online where you can ease yourself into asking and answering questions, and participating in discussions.

6. Mindfulness and Living in the Now

A lot of anxiety comes from wondering what people think about you, how they view you, and what is going to happen next. Being mindful and living in the present moment, can help you to stop thinking about what will happen and allow you to focus on the truth of what is happening right now. Living in the now stops the thinking mind and opens up your awareness to the present moment.

For instance, if you are going to give a speech, then you may be wondering what the audience will be thinking, whether you will screw up, and whether you will be able to talk at all. But being mindful will help you realize that none of those things are actually occurring, and allow you to focus on what you are doing in the moment, not what you will be doing.

The above 6 methods of dealing with social anxiety will benefit you in a big way. Use one or all of them to start dealing with your social anxiety, and you will start to move towards an anxiety-free life.

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Anhedonia Treatment - What you Need to Know

Gloria Goodwin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:49:55 +0000

If you suffer from anhedonia, then there is treatment available for you, but it does make sense to understand more as to what is involved before you start. What follows is all of the information you should really know about not just the possible treatment, but also the condition itself to allow you to determine if you do indeed suffer from it or not.

What is anhedonia?

Anhedonia is a major symptom of a major depressive disorder and it is perhaps best characterised by the person losing all interest in activities that used to give them a great deal of pleasure. There is a theory that it occurs as a direct result of the reward system of the brain actually breaking down so people lose a certain amount of their emotions and find it difficult to enjoy anything. If you suffer from depression, then there is a good chance you will also have anhedonia. People with it will generally have an extremely flat mood with no changes in it, which does make it difficult for them to get treatment.

What is the treatment?

There are several ways in which anhedonia can be treated and it may indeed result in a combination of both medication as well as natural remedies. One issue is of course the depression and it may be decided that the sufferer will require medication to help with that and then the anhedonia will be tackled on its own. As it is linked to anxiety it is best to tackle the problem as soon as possible with the following treatments having been shown to be successful with a number of people.

Doing some form of physical exercise is widely accepted as being a fantastic treatment in not only this, but also depression in general. By doing exercise it releases chemicals in the brain that does elevate the mood so look at doing it on a regular basis even if it just involves going for a brisk walk on most days.

Apart from exercise, another treatment can involve the use of yoga to help calm the mind and this is of course something that can be done alone. Yoga is known as being a good way to tackle anxiety and actually stop it from developing too quickly and you can then keep it under control. Do also consider meditation as an alternative and others will also tend to use tai-chi to help them remain calm.

You may also want to look at homeopathic treatments if you wish to avoid using medication that is prescribed by your doctor and there are several things that may be used. Valerian is good for not only helping you to sleep better, which is also part of the treatment for anheodnia, but it will also help with anxiety, but you are certainly advised to consult an expert to ensure you take the right things.

Another approach to take is to live a healthy lifestyle, which means look at your diet and stop smoking as well as reduce the amount of alcohol you consume. Doctors and psychologists will often state that a healthy lifestyle can make a difference with anhedonia as well as depression and build a close relationship with friends and family who can support you.

Finally, there are of course antidepressants available or other medication designed to help tackle anxiety issues, but for some people they will lead to side effects and it may be best to look at natural remedies instead. Side effects are of course not an issue with the natural approach and it will, therefore, be kinder on your body and mind in general.

How successful is the treatment?

As with any kind of treatment the success rate does vary between people; however, the fact there are several methods available does make it far more likely you will be able to find something that works for you. There are a large number of people who would swear by the natural, holistic approach and there has certainly been a lot of research into the impact it has on the mind and depression in general.

So if you do indeed suffer from anhedonia, then at least there are a number of potential treatments available for you to try. It is perhaps quite importantn to point out that there will be no guarantee of one treatment being suitable for everyone, but the key is to try a mixture of both natural remedies along with those that are perhaps prescribed by your doctor in order to give yourself the best chance of recovery. Getting over this is entirely possible and in doing so you will be able to start to enjoy life once more rather than the depression and anhedonia slowly crippling you.

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Topic:

Social Anxiety

Beyond Anxiety and Depression - Social Anxiety

5 Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment Options

1 CHANGING NEGATIVE THINKING

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Exposure Therapy

Social Skill Training

Cognitive Restructuring

2 MEDICATION

3 HERBAL REMEDIES

4 EXERCISES

5 SELF HELP STRATEGIES

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Social Anxiety Treatment: how you can Live the Life you Deserve

Rule # 1:

Rule # 2:

Rule # 3:

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Shyness and Social Anxiety: How to Overcome Social Anxiety

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Options for How to Treat Social Anxiety

Psychotherapy

Medication

Alternative Tre​atments

Self-Help Strategies

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How to Cure Social Anxiety - 7 steps to a Better Life

1. Practice thinking positively

2. Stop comparing yourself to others

3. Try to like yourself and your own strengths

4. Give yourself attainable goals to aim for and achieve them

5. Never avoid those difficult situations

6. Make sure you sleep well every night

7. Practice relaxation methods that work for you

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Take the Social Anxiety Test

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What to Expect with a Social Anxiety Disorder Test (SAD)

What to expect when taking the Social Anxiety Disorder test?

1. Questions

2. Results

Where to Find a Test?

What are the benefits of taking a test?

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Learn How to Get Over Social Anxiety

Recognize and acknowledge the signs and symptoms of social anxiety.

Resolve to make a commitment with yourself to address your problem.

Help yourself and allow other people to help you.

Allow yourself to fail.

Reach out to people.

Break down anxiety triggers and deal with them in bite sized pieces.

Learn how to control physical symptoms of anxiety.

Live a healthy lifestyle.

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6 Important Methods on How To Deal With Social Anxiety

1. Change Your Self-Talk

2. Use Your Imagination

3. Exposure To Real Social Situations

4. Explore Music and Sound Therapy

5. Join a Support Group

6. Mindfulness and Living in the Now

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Anhedonia Treatment - What you Need to Know

What is anhedonia?

What is the treatment?

How successful is the treatment?

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Alternative Treatments