Should I go for anti-anxiety medication treatment or just bear with it

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I have social phobia,even my psychiatrist told me that.For long term treatment should I ask my psychiatris to prescribed me with a anti-anxiety medication or should I bear with all the anxiousness and avoid most social interaction?

I had stiff body,low,soft and monotone of voice when talking to most people…I avoid social interaction because of uncomfortableness but I dont dislike it because I had seen people who had good fun enjoyment during social interaction.I became extremely anxious since I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and I were functioning okay when I was a kid…

Should I go for anti anxiety medication or should I go for theraphy and tough it out? :smiley:

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I would love to be a socialable person,I been having a rough time in life but I am trying to turn it over…I think my social phobia prevents me from being the best of me in some limiting ways

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I’d give the meds a try. It could help you with this.

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Really?i have heard a lot of people getting help with a anti anxiety medication but some don’t take it long term because it’s not recommended.My psychiatrist won’t mind prescribing me a benzo,but I can feel he wants me to tough it out.I can still function okay now but I am in my 20s,avoiding people had caused me to miss out a lot

I hope I can take benzodiazepines for long term.We can take antipsychotic daily,it should be stronger than benzo,I also though there are people taking benzo daily and is functioning excellent…they take it because of anxiety

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Hmmm… There are probably benzo alternatives. You never mention alcohol though. I know the two don’t mix so you’d probably be safe. I know how fear and awkwardness interrelate. The fear being anxiety. You might still feel awkward but you won’t have the fear to reinforce it.

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I have social anxiety too. Since i was little. Always worrying what people might think of me, beeing anxious around them. But i am feeling a lot better now. Maybe because im 30 now and you gain life experiance and then you worry less about other people. I wouldn´t go for the meds. A lot of people are anxious around other people. I also avoided social interactions i still do but less. I just prefer to be by myself and with my family i never have anything to say anyway.

But thats just me.

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Is it that you had awkwardness but not fear?
@soltgoes

Having fear or awkwardness is no fun,haha

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I had both. Still do but less.

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Both seem to reside in time. Used to be worse. Pot makes it hell.

Really it’s my hallucinations that make it so bad. I’m constantly playing a game in my mind. Trying to control it.

I think I’ll grow numb/accustomed to that too.

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I would like my problem to be treated.Glad that it’s not troubling you much…I would put my anxiety level at 65-70 as it had affected my work performance and family functioning Level.I can still function though to some extend

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@soltgoes…I think you should talk to your pdoc about your hallucination,it can be helped with therapy and medication,it’s important…you have time on your side just like me but we had to figure a way to live a comfortable yet more functionable life

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I tried all the local options… Multiple therapies. Multiple meds. Nothing makes a difference.

I’m just glad I can come home every night and pretend it’s not happening.

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13

Your a tough man…

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I got kind of fed up with seeing the doc. I plan on getting back to it later once I get health insurance worked out.

Today wasn’t all that great. Most days are better.

Feeling something I don’t usually feel. Anger. It should pass though.

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When you get older you don´t care as much about what other people think. Maybe i have it (social anxiety) because i was bullied a lot in my teens and early to mid 20s. It was really bad it effected my self esteem and all.

You can give medications a try if you want to. If you feel its that bad. I know how it feels.

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16

I would maybe try the “non-addictive” meds such as gabapentin or pregabalin before benzos.

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I do what you do when I interact with people - go rigid and start to talk in a monotone voice. I bet anti-anxiety medications could be appropriate for you. You might become dependent on them, though. I was on Klonopin for a while, but the doctor tooks me off of it.

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The klonopin is not effective for you to continue despite the probability of addiction?

I would try it if my doctor says yes and it won’t affect me too much,even if it’s for 3 months might help kick start against my anxiety

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you should really be asking your doctor this question, i suggest that you copy this post and ask him what he thinks,

i told my p/doc about my anxiety far far too late, i wish i had told him earlier but now after telling him a few months ago it is really helping me, i feel more relaxed and able to do things its great,

i have been on meds about 12 years now and i wish i had an anti anxiety med from the start.

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I was having panic attacks, started taking 1000mg of calcium and chellated magnesium and 500mg Solgar B1 my panic attacks have ceased and I feel more relaxed, hope this helps

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