I have social anxiety…is there any way to get over it or improve the problem
I also have social anxiety.
SSRIs, ADs, and benzos help, especially when combined with CBT.
im working with a psychologist …what meds help with this and at what dose @anon17132524 …were you better able to chit chat because of it
I think most docs will prescribe a benzo for a week or maybe a couple months while waiting for an antidepressant to start helping. Benzos should not be used long term, though in my experience i had no bad reaction from using multiple benzos at high doses for prolonged periods. But I was younger and more resistant to withdrawals i think. (Just be careful with benzos is all im saying)
Clonazepam (.5 mg, 3X/day) helps me the most, but there’s no substitute for going outside. I have to force myself. It does get a little easier the more you go outside.
@anon99233869 and @anon17132524 …how do these meds interact with anti psychotics
Clonazepam is a sedative, and it seems Seroquel sedates me, but I’ve taken these meds for a long time so I don’t get very sedated.
Im not sure. A professional, either a pdoc or pharmacist, should be asked for specific drugs. However in three years of dealing with many AD, AP, and benzo med changes and combinations I have never been told to watch for it affecting the intended effects of an antipsychotic. It should have no interaction, but again im not sure of the specifics. Sorry for my limited knowledge, hope this helps.
But keep in mind, anxiety is very treatable, even while on an antipsychotic.
I did exposure therapy for a few months, and even though it was horrible while doing it it helped me greatly. I honestly don’t have too many problems anymore with it.
@Dreamer …when you say you did exposure therapy, did you actually put urself in social situations that you feared…and how did you get on
I sat down with my therapist and told her different kinds of situations that made me anxious. From ones that caused mild anxiety to ones that caused extreme anxiety. We started out imaging me doing these things. Then we went out in public and actually did them, starting with the mild ones first and gradually building up to the more anxiety producing ones.
At the time I did this I was receiving treatment at a large medical university so there was a lot of people. She had me do things like ride in a crowded elevator, drop a tray in the cafeteria to bring attention to myself (this was one of the ones I ranked as extreme anxiety), and hold a 2 minute conversation with strangers. She was present the whole time but took her badge off so the people didnt know it was me doing exposure therapy and they didnt know she was my therapist.
@Dreamer …interesting,
It honestly did help tremendously, but it wasnt overnight improvement. I was also on a benzo and AD at the time, now I’m strictly just on AD’s
@Dreamer …do the AD’s help with generating thoughts for chit chat
In a way no, and in a way yes.
They don’t really help me think of stuff to say, but I have ptsd so I was constantly hypervigilant and wary if people. So because of that I didn’t want anything to do with strangers. The ADs helped the PTSD symptoms, which in turn made me not as on edge when out in public and when meeting new people. I still usually dont have a lot to say, and I’m up front about that. I just tell people I’m a lot better listener than I am a talker.
Edit: The ADs helped with the anxiety, so my ability to have thoughts come more easily has improved.
im assuming AD’s are anti depressant, just to make sure I know what im talking about when I meet my pdoc
Yes, antidepressants. They’ve done wonders for me. I’m currently on Lexapro in the morning. I also take remeron in the evening to help me sleep, but it’s also an AD and seems to have been beneficial for my anxiety as well.
I’m not sure how your pdoc is about benzos, but they were a lifesaver for me for 5 years. I’ve been off of them completely for going on 6 months now as I’ve gotten a better handle on it.
SSRIs, and exposure therapy are supposed to help
If you can, try therapy. It’s the best treatment. Use meds in addition to, but not instead of therapy, unless you have no choice.