By Brianna Boyd

WHAT IS SOCIAL ANXIETY?

Social anxiety is a mental health condition where people have an irrational fear when it comes to interacting with others socially. They might get embarrassed or feel self-conscious around others in certain social situations. Those who suffer from social anxiety may experience fear of situations where they might be judged, humiliated, or where they might possibly offend someone. They may fear to talk with or speaking in front of others. Social anxiety causes people who suffer from it, to shy away from people. They might be introverted and avoid large groups of people. All of these aspects of social anxiety can wreak havoc on one’s life and really affect a person’s quality of life.

CAN SOCIAL ANXIETY BE TREATED?

Thankfully, with the proper treatment, social anxiety can be subdued. Social anxiety can be treated with medication. Anti-depressants can provide a rapid solution for people and alleviate their symptoms and help functionality return. Medication, however, is only one part of the treatment. Medication by itself does not fully resolve a person’s social anxiety. It also does not provide people with the tools they need to effectively cope with any remaining issues that stem from one’s social anxiety. Anti-depression Counseling also helps a person understand any underlying issues they may have that has led to one’s struggle with social anxiety.

WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY?

Social anxiety disorder is often associated with experiences of trauma—most specifically childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Consequently, for some people, social anxiety may be a manifestation of deeper psychological wounding. Medication cannot and will not be able to automatically heal a person from their traumas or give them the tools they need to truly recover. People’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs do not change just because they are taking medication. The only thing that can help change those negative thought patterns is therapist Baltimore MD.

WHY THERAPY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY

Medication by itself is not enough to properly treat social anxiety. Because of this, therapy plays a vital role in a person’s recovery. Therapy provides one with a safe space to understand their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and traumas. It also helps one learn the skills they need to help them make the proper changes to overcome their social anxiety. There are different types of therapy that can help a person deal with and overcome their social anxiety Counseling Near Silver Spring.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY (CBT) has been beneficial in reversing negative behavioral and emotional patterns. Studies have shown the CBT is actually more helpful than medication and its effects last even after treatment has stopped. By undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy, one can have a better outcome and avoid the unwanted side effects of medication. It is a well-known fact that medication can sometimes stop working. With CBT, people are taught skills that they can take with them even after they stop going to therapy altogether. Many mental health professionals agree that cognitive-behavioral therapy should be the first step of treatment for social anxiety disorder. Medication should come last as a supplemental treatment.

CBT is not the only form of therapy that can help treat social anxiety disorder. Some others include:

Psychodynamic Therapy: this type of therapy helps one understand more deeply how interpersonal relationships, early childhood experiences, and unconscious processes affect a person’s emotional and behavioral patterns.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR): EDMR is beneficial in helping people with social anxiety disorder overcome rumination and cope with anxiety-producing stimuli.

Somatic Experiencing: Somatic experiencing helps one to restore their alignment of the autonomic nervous system by the release of destructive energy and the promotion of emotional, physical, and behavioral self-regulation.

Group Therapies: Group therapy that is geared towards one’s unique needs can be exceptionally helpful for one’s understanding of the processes of psychological distress. Having the support of others who know exactly what another person is experiencing is helpful in allowing that person to understand that they are not alone. Group therapy also gives people the opportunity to get comfortable socializing in a safe environment.

All of these therapies allow for a person to understand more deeply the effect of social anxiety disorder on their life. It also allows for that person to develop the proper tools for coping with their social anxiety and any underlying issues or trauma.

SOCIAL ANXIETY AS A BARRIER

Social anxiety can sometimes cause people to avoid seeking treatment. Intensive residential care is sometimes the best way for a person to get over that barrier and feel comfortable again. Seeking out treatment once a week, in an intimate setting can help one avoid falling too deep into the disorder and keep one from feeling overwhelmed. Taking part in one of the therapies above and working with a compassionate clinician can help one establish trust and a meaningful relationship that will transcend their life and condition.