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Question: Treatment for social phobia/social anxiety disorder?

(Posted by: Peter Griffin on 2010-06-26 16:17:50)

What's a good cost affective treatment for this. I'm too poor to go see a psychologist and i' a student so i dont have benefits. Any over the counter drugs work well for you. Perhaps supplements. I'm a psych major to try to help myself but no real answers

Posted by: Ash Ley on 2010-06-26, 16:20:37

I would say to go out of your comfort range.. do something you wouldnt normally do. dont care what other people think. that doesnt matter. these disorders may be hard to treat, but just try and believe in yourself. good luck.

Posted by: Janis Adams on 2010-06-26, 16:29:57

There is a wonderful online support group for sufferers of Social Anxiety Disorder. It's at socialanxietysupport.com . Perhaps you can get some help there, until you can afford therapy. If you can't afford therapy, you can still see your normal doctor, and get prescribed either anti-anxiety medication, anti-depressants, or both. You just have to say that you've been feeling rather anxious or depressed, and he'll ask you a few questions, including, "have you been feeling suicidal ", and then he'll give you a prescription. Medication can help immensely, but be careful not to get hooked on it. Good luck.

Posted by: El on 2010-06-26, 16:30:28

Being a psych major you must know that often social anxiety disorder goes hand in hand with depression. Knowing that, you could try taking St.John's Wort or some other herbal remedy which treats depression. Also, being a student doesn't bar you from seeing your doctor who could offer suggestions such as prescription medication for your illness. If you're in Britain, prescriptions are now free to all. If you're in the States, i don't know how the prescription system works over there, but i'm sure if you really want to get better, you'll be willing to go to any lengths to do it.

Posted by: The Beautiful Mind on 2010-06-26, 16:31:02

Dear Peter, I understand the position you are in. I have social anxiety. My mother refused to let me be on medication because of the risk of becoming addicted to it and the fact that the side effects can be worse than the actual anxiety itself. I refused therapy because I cannot stand the idea of talking to someone about my problems and don't believe in therapy as a whole. Instead, my mother researched on the internet of ways to control social anxiety and/ or any anxiety. A test study has shown that Omega 3, along with a good, healthy, balanced diet and a decent amount of excercise can help a person who is suffering from anxiety. And if, like me, you do not like fish and/ or things that contain Omega 3, you can purchase fish oil tablets at your local store. It has been shown that, while it can not cure it completely, it can help anxiety. I, for one, do not believe this helps, but you may be one of the people it does work on, and it can't harm you to test it, can it? I wish you the best of luck, The Beautiful Mind.

Posted by: Marcus on 2010-06-26, 16:34:27

You have to see a psychologist, its the only way