However, over time I noticed the telltale signs returning. Even though I did my job perfectly well, I felt insecure and froze whenever a colleague asked me a question. I was exhausted and constantly on edge. I wake up and, for about 60 seconds, everything is OK. Then, it hits, like a wave crashing over my body, and I flinch. How many meetings do I have? Will I be expected to contribute? What if I bump into a colleague somewhere? Would we find things to talk about? I feel sick and jump out of bed in an attempt to disrupt the thoughts.
Over breakfast, I watch TV and try desperately to block out the buzzing in my head. The thoughts jumped out of bed with me, and they are relentless. The commute is hellish, as always. The train is overcrowded and too hot. I feel irritable and slightly panicked.
Why are people staring at me? Am I acting strangely? I cringe as I greet my colleagues and manager. Did I look happy? Why can I never think of anything interesting to say?
They ask if I want a coffee, but I decline. Best not to draw any more attention to myself by asking for a soy latte. My heart sinks when I look at my calendar. During a conference call, my voice cracks slightly whilst answering a very basic question.
I blush in response and feel humiliated. My whole body is burning with embarrassment and I desperately want to run out of the room. In between bites of my salad, I jot down topics of conversation for this evening. My mind is going over every possible scenario that could happen this evening. What if I spill my drink over someone? Antidepressants may also cause side effects, such as headaches, nausea, or difficulty sleeping. These side effects are usually not severe for most people, especially if the dose starts off low and is increased slowly over time.
Talk to your doctor about any side effects that you have. Beta-blockers are medicines that can help block some of the physical symptoms of anxiety on the body, such as an increased heart rate, sweating, or tremors. Your doctor will work with you to find the best medication, dose, and duration of treatment. Many people with social anxiety disorder obtain the best results with a combination of medication and CBT or other psychotherapies.
Don't give up on treatment too quickly. Both psychotherapy and medication can take some time to work. A healthy lifestyle can also help combat anxiety. Make sure to get enough sleep and exercise, eat a healthy diet, and turn to family and friends who you trust for support. For basic information about these and other mental health medications, visit www. For information on clinical trials, visit: ClinicalTrials.
For more information on conditions that affect mental health, resources, and research, visit the NIMH website www. The Mental Health Treatment Locator section of the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator lists facilities providing mental health services to persons with mental illness. Find a facility in your state at findtreatment. For additional resources, visit www. This publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from NIMH.
Citation of NIMH as a source is appreciated. We encourage you to reproduce it and use it in your efforts to improve public health. However, using government materials inappropriately can raise legal or ethical concerns, so we ask you to use these guidelines:. Statistics NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the population of the United States.
Help for Mental Illnesses If you or someone you know has a mental illness, there are ways to get help. Clinical Trials If you or a friend or family member are thinking about taking part in clinical research, this page contains basic information about clinical trials. Stakeholder Engagement Find out how NIMH engages a range of stakeholder organizations as part of its efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research we support. Education and Awareness Use these free mental health education and outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about topics like eating disorders, autism awareness, and suicide prevention.
Application Process Explore the NIMH grant application process, including how to write your grant, how to submit your grant, and how the review process works. Small Business Research Learn about funding opportunities for small businesses. Meetings and Events Details about upcoming events — including meetings, conferences, workshops, lectures, webinars, and chats — sponsored by the NIMH. Multimedia NIMH videos and podcasts featuring science news, lecture series, meetings, seminars, and special events.
Press Resources Information about NIMH, research results, summaries of scientific meetings, and mental health resources. Innovation Speaker Series NIMH hosts an annual lecture series dedicated to innovation, invention, and scientific discovery. Gordon, M. Advisory Boards and Groups Read about the boards and groups that advise and provide guidance to the Institute.
If a general practitioner suspects a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for treatment. With all medical or mental health professionals, be sure to describe your anxiety symptoms in detail, including when and where they present themselves and exactly how you react.
This communication will help to ensure an accurate diagnosis of social phobia rather than a related anxiety disorder, mood disorder, or one of many other common mental disorders. Treatment of social anxiety may include medication, psychotherapy, or, most likely, a combination of both.
Three types of medications are often prescribed to treat symptoms of social anxiety disorder: anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and beta-blockers. While anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants treat the physiological symptoms of this specific type of anxiety disorder, beta-blockers primarily work on some of the physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, tremors, or excessive sweating.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, complements medication treatment. There are several types of psychotherapy options available for the treatment of social anxiety disorder, and cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT has proven to be one of the most effective.
CBT works by retraining your brain to think, behave, and react differently to the situations that make you feel anxious or afraid. Your therapist will use techniques like repetition and reinforcement during your CBT treatment, helping you to recognize and better cope with your negative thoughts and irrational fears.
A good therapist can also help you with social skills training. Social anxiety disorder is a severe mental health condition that can keep you from developing a social life and enjoying everyday situations. The mental health professionals at Therapy Group of NYC can help you discover or get back to your own kind of normal, so you can enjoy life again. Lopez Witmer, Psy. Looking For a Therapist?
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter. Who suffers from social phobia? Ready to feel less anxious? Find your therapist. Learn More. Explore Related Articles.
0コメント