Social Anxiety Disorder Treatments And Solutions

Social anxiety disorder treatment is a necessary course of action for someone that faces social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia. This condition puts you in a place in which you are extremely fearful of others and what they may think of you. Anytime that you feel as if you are being scrutinized, you are leery to play a role. Your fear is that you will somehow not measure up to their standards.

Social anxiety disorder will often have symptoms that are similar to other types of social disorder symptoms. The symptoms are triggered, though, when an individual is facing a social situation. They may experience symptoms such as sweating, a racing heart, muscle tension, problems speaking clearly, dry mouth and shaking. Of course, when the social anxiety disorder symptoms like these occur, it brings on additional fears and therefore even more worry about being judged.

The end result is that people that face social anxiety disorder will likely pull themselves out of social situations. You may avoid social outings, or stop doing things that put this type of pressure on you such as speeches and holding meetings. Many will do this type of avoidance anytime they feel that a social anxiety attack is imminent. Additionally, some people will endure them, but will be under a huge amount of stress during an attack.

Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment Options

When it comes to social anxiety disorder treatment options, there are several very key elements that can be used. This condition is considered to be a long lasting, even a lifetime event in a person's life. Therefore, social anxiety disorder treatment really should be sought after.

Medications: There are medications on the market that can help in the treatment of social phobia. These medications are in a class of antidepressants that are known as SRI's (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and are sometimes quite effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder. One very common medication prescribed for social anxiety disorder treatment is that of Paxil.

Self Help: There are herbal remedies on the market that have been found to have a good amount of help for social phobia. These have been used for hundreds of years with success. Additionally, acupuncture and yoga have been helpful in the treatment of this condition as they can help to relieve the stresses on the body and promote healing.

Behavioral Help: Psychotherapy is often used too as a social anxiety disorder treatment as well. Therapy can and does help people. They will look at what is truly rational and help you to work through this effectively.

Social anxiety disorder treatment is based on the fact that you need to seek out professional help. You should talk with your doctor about your concerns and they can easily help you to work through them. One thing that may help you to do this is to realize that upwards of 13% of the population will experience social anxiety disorders at some point in their lives. That means, you are not alone or strange for feeling this way!

Stop Anxiety - Master Your Environment

You have felt it come over you... the sense of your body overreacting. The knots in the stomach, the tenseness, the rapid heartbeat, the uncomfortable feeling of panic. You have those anxiety attacks, big and small, and you would like to have the control to stop them. You can get that control. You can master your body and its reactions. Just like you have learned to do any of the many things you've learned in your life, you can learn how to control and eliminate the causes of anxiety.

Anxiety is a fear reaction triggered by environmental conditions. Somewhere along the way in your life you met conditions that left you uncomfortable. You remember the conditions of that bad time and your brain has stored that combination of events and memories. That brain stored reaction is triggered when conditions arise that have been linked to that prior time.

Your brain is trying to protect you, but in many cases it has inappropriately linked events and memories and fear together in a mix that creates anxiety at the wrong time. You have to do some work to untangle that bad mix in your head. This can be done by you, once you're shown how. It's just like learning how to swing a golf club, drive a car, or do a dance.

It's a question of knowledge and practice. When you learn what to do and then how to do it you can solve problems and do things that you couldn't do the day before. Take a look at the Resource Guide link that is shown above to get direct information to help you.

We are all sensitive beings. That's part of being human. That sensitivity gives us the openings to enjoy the many beautiful and thrilling things in the world. But our brain is not perfect at putting events and memories together. Sometimes our brain tries to protect us and help us, but has actually created a mixed up grouping that triggers anxiety at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons. We can fix that. You can fix that. Just like you can learn to play the piano or ride a bike, you can guide your brain and body to learn in ways useful to you. You can also guide your brain and body to overcome reactions or habits that are not serving you well. Anxiety attacks tell you that your brain and body have developed a reaction that is not helpful to you. It's like having a bad swing in golf. The wrong combinations got embedded. You can work that out and get yourself back to where you want to be. It takes knowledge of what to do and then some practice to get right.

Take advantage of the knowledge available to you to reduce or eliminate your anxiety. The Resource Guide link is one proven method that you can use to reduce your anxiety. If anxiety is bothering you and you want to do something about it, you can. Anxiety can be overcome.

You'll enjoy life more when you've cleared out the bad combination of emotion, environment and fear that is causing you to suffer anxiety. Do you want to enjoy life more? Well, sometimes you've got to make the effort to get what you want. Here's the knowledge to reduce anxiety and eliminate that from your life. If you want to eliminate anxiety, take it. The knowledge and freedom can be yours. It's a walk in the park. A nice one at that.

Herbs That Ease Anxiety & Fear

Fear and anxiety are closely linked, but quite different. Fear is focused, anxiety is diffuse. Fear is health promoting and protective: it keeps us from jumping off cliffs. Anxiety can destroy health and increase our vulnerability: it shortens our breath, narrows our blood vessels, and interferes with the functioning of the immune system. Fear is useful energy; it calls to our courage. Anxiety is useless; it promotes feelings of insecurity, helplessness, weakness.

Notice the difference in yourself between fear and anxiety. Whenever possible, find the fear hidden in your anxiety and let it call forth your strength and power. The following remedies can help you make this transformation.

Bach flower remedies are easy to carry and use. A dose is 1-4 drops, taken as needed. One or more of the following may ease your anxiety:

• Aspen (anxious about the future)
• Mimulus (anxious about the past)
• Red Chestnut (anxious about the safety of others)
• Elm (overwhelming anxiety)
• Rock Rose (anxiety that escalates into panic)

The smell of roses has been used for centuries to ease anxiety. A touch of rose essential oil on the seam of your sleeve will wrap you in calming fragrance all day. To magnify the effect, have a massage with rose-scented balms. Even one massage can cause a marked decrease in anxiety for weeks afterwards.

Yoga postures, yoga breathing, and quiet, focused meditation are excellent ways to tonify (and soothe) the sympathetic nervous system. Regular practice alleviates anxiety, often permanently. If you feel so anxious you think you might burst, try the lion pose:

• Open your mouth very wide; even wider!
• Stick your tongue out; even further.
• Open your eyes really wide; bigger.
• Rotate eyes left, then right.
• Breathe deeply and exhale fully up to ten times.
• Keep the shoulders and the forehead relaxed.

This pose unblocks the throat, releases facial tension, relaxes the breathing muscles, and relieves anxiety.

Stinging nettle infusion strengthens the adrenals: relieving anxiety and building focused energy. Depleted adrenals often over-react, giving rise to sudden sensations of anxiety, fear, and nervousness. Use bulk herb, not tea bags, not capsules.

• Put one ounce by weight (about a cup by volume) of the dried nettle herb in a quart jar.
• Fill the jar to the top with boiling water and cover tightly.
• Let steep for at least four hours; overnight is fine.
• Strain herb out and drink the remaining liquid.

Oatstraw infusion is another favorite of those who want to feel less anxious. Preparation is the same as for nettle infusion; remember to avoid tea bags and capsules. The taste of oatstraw is softer and more mellow; you will enjoy it warm with a little honey. Green oat tincture is much more powerful than oatstraw infusion. It is especially useful for those whose anxiety is combined with excessive nervous energy. Or try a hot bath with lemon balm or oatstraw; an ancient remedy for bad cases of the nerves. Ahhhh...

Motherwort tincture is my favorite calmative. It is not sleep inducing nor mind numbing. A dose of 10-20 drops can safely be taken as often as every ten minutes if needed, to calm and soothe sore spirits. "Like sitting in my mother's lap," one satisfied user commented. Motherwort tea tastes terrible and is not very effective; likewise the capsules are not useful. Motherwort tincture can be taken every day if you wish, but you will find that you don't need it as you have used it for a while.

A dropperful of St. Joans/John's wort tincture is the remedy to reach for when you are on edge and feel like anything will push you over it. The dose can be repeated safely several times an hour if needed. This nerve-nourishing and nerve-strengthening herb relieves the immediate anxiety and helps prevent future distress as well.

Herbal tranquilizers are safer than prescription tranquilizers, but are best reserved for occasional use. Valerian is the best known. Because its action can be quite strong, it is best to begin with a five-drop dose, which can be repeated every 10-15 minutes until you are calm (and probably asleep). To avoid addiction, use valerian root as a tea or a tincture, not in capsules, and take it for no more than three weeks. Skullcap tincture is less addictive and often more effective. The dose is 10-20 drops of fresh plant tincture or 1-2 dropperfuls of dried plant tincture. Skullcap can also be sleep inducing, but it is rarely habituating.

Exercise is a ready remedy for overwhelming anxiety. If you feel like running away from it all, running or skating or walking briskly might be the very thing to do. Fifteen to twenty minutes of heart-pounding exercise will use up your excess adrenalin and eat up your stress.

Extreme fear or anxiety may lead to hyperventilation. If you are breathing rapidly and shallowly and feel spaced out you can:

1. breathe into a paper bag until normal breathing resumes or
2. hold your breath (you can actually put your hand over your nose and mouth) for a count of 20; then breathe out as slowly as you can.

Calcium keeps the nerves steady. A glass of warm milk is an old wives' trusted ally for relieving anxiety. Stinging nettle is an excellent source of calcium when brewed as an infusion; one cup can contain as much as 500 mg of calcium. Oatstraw infusion is also loaded with calcium, with one cup containing up to 300 mg. Soy beverage can have the opposite effect - that is, it may increase anxiety - due to its ability to disrupt thyroid functioning and interfere with calcium metabolism. One herbalist who consumed large quantities of soy "milk" and soy protein bars wound up in the hospital with an irregular heartbeat and severe anxiety. If you think you are lactose intolerant, drink no more than four ounces of milk at a time, or use yogurt instead of milk. (Yogurt is generally free of lactose.)

Of course, you don't want to do all these things at once! But you could join a yoga class, use nettle or oatstraw infusion daily, and have a bottle of motherwort or skullcap tincture handy for times when you are exceptionally anxious. By working with strengthening herbs and exercises, you not only relieve the bothersome symptoms but also improve your overall health. That's the Wise Woman Way.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Anxiety Symptoms and Treatment: Finding the Best Anxiety Treatment Program for You

Many people feel anxious at some point in their lives, such as before an important exam or when called upon to speak in public. Anxiousness is a normal reaction to stressful events, but if anxiousness becomes chronic and excessive, it may be the sign of an anxiety disorder.

There are many different types of anxiety disorders, each with its own anxiety symptoms and treatment options. Some of the most common types are generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, social phobia and panic disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by constant and exaggerated worrisome thoughts and unnecessary tension about routine events and everyday activities. The symptoms must have existed without interruption for at least six months. Generalized anxiety disorder lacks many of the more dramatic symptoms of other anxiety disorders and so can be harder to diagnose, but it can include physical symptoms like headaches, sweating and gastrointestinal trouble. Individual therapy is usually the best treatment method for finding anxiety relief and should focus on helping the patient identify stress factors and find a balance between work, family and social obligations.

Post traumatic stress disorder can occur after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event like a murder, rape, mugging, car crash or natural disaster. Those who suffer from this disorder can experience the event repeatedly in nightmares and flashbacks and also begin to feel depressed, angry, irritable, can scare easily and become emotionally numb. Post traumatic stress disorder is treated in a similar manner to generalized anxiety disorder and includes identifying stress factors, coping emotionally with the traumatic event, and developing relaxation techniques for coping with anxiety.

Social phobia is characterized by an overwhelming fear of embarrassment, scrutiny or humiliation in social situations which causes people with the condition to avoid normal social activities. Treatment can include medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of therapy that concentrates on examining the symptoms and reasoning through them, as well as exposing the patient gradually to the circumstances that cause their panic.

Panic disorders are characterized by a frequent and irrational occurrence of episodes of intense fear, otherwise known as a panic attack. Effective treatment usually includes a combination of psychotherapy and learned relaxation techniques.

Anxiety disorders almost always require professional treatment. It is not usually possible to "just get over it", as it is a genuine mental illness that deserves medical attention. Consulting a doctor and developing an appropriate treatment anxiety treatment program is the first step in overcoming this debilitating disorder.

Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to Native Remedies - where you can find All Natural Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies for many health conditions including natural treatments for anxiety and panic attack treatments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tess_Thompson

Learning How to Treat Anxiety Disorders and Finding Natural Panic Attack Remedies

With over 19 million adults affected by them, anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses in the United States. There are many different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks, to name a few, but all of them produce symptoms of excessive fear and dread and can be debilitating to those who suffer from them. Learning how to treat anxiety disorders requires time, practice and patience because in almost all cases, anxiety is best treated by behavioral therapy and not by prescription medication.

Panic attacks are a particularly disabling kind of anxiety disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Panic Disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of intense fear that occur frequently and without warning. Panic attacks can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to over a half hour. Most people who suffer from panic episodes usually experience sweating, trembling, rapid heart beat and shortness of breath, and can sometimes also experience chills, cramps, hot flashes, nausea and dizziness.

Panic Disorder is most effectively treated with a combination of psychotherapy and learned relaxation techniques. Many researchers believe that panic attacks are tied to the body's natural "fight-or-flight" response to danger, and learning to recognize the physiological sensations that accompany this response is an important first step in anxiety relief. Therapy can also focus on identifying the irrational fears that produce attacks (fear of dying, fear of embarrassment...etc) and teaching coping skills. Relaxation and imagery techniques are also commonly taught to help those who suffer from Panic Disorder to alleviate symptoms of panic attacks while they are experiencing them. In all cases, exercises and techniques taught in therapy must be practiced daily in order to be truly effective.

While prescription medication is not usually an appropriate treatment for Panic Disorder, there are natural treatments for anxiety which have been used safely and effectively for centuries to treat symptoms of anxiety. Lavender (or Lavendula Augustifolia) is on of the most popular popular panic attack remedies and is used for its calming properties and its role as a general nervous system tonic. Passion Flower and Lemon Balm are other excellent natural anxiety and panic attack treatments.

If left untreated, Panic Disorder can intensify to a crippling degree and leave some sufferers fearful of even leaving home. Professional help and a true commitment to battling the disorder are necessary components in your ability to overcome your anxiety and to begin to lead a less anxiety-ridden, healthier life.

Webmaster: You are authorized to reprint this article providing the author bio/resource box is left completely in tact - including all hyperlinks.

Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to Native Remedies - where you can find All Natural Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies for many health conditions including natural treatments for anxiety and panic attack treatments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tess_Thompson

Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Is Taking Prescription Medication for Anxiety the Best Option?

Here is the good news about anxiety disorders: They are treatable. There are a variety of treatments for anxiety, including behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques and medication. But the question more and more patients are posing to their doctors is: Is prescription medication the best treatment option?

Anxiety is complicated to diagnose because it is often found to be a symptom of other medical conditions or a side effect of other behaviors. For example, some people react to too much caffeine by exhibiting symptoms of anxiety disorders, including, occasionally, panic attacks. Other conditions that can be accompanied by anxiety are hypoglycemia, hyperthyroid, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome and, most often, depression.

When a patient who is suffering from depression is also suffering from anxiety disorder, doctors can often see it as a good sign. In general, it means that the person has not accepted or given in to their depressed condition, and is anxious about it. To alleviate the anxiety, doctors can recommend different types of therapy, each of which can work equally well. Most doctors recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps the patient first to identify the cause of his anxiety, talks him through it, and then slowly and carefully exposes him to situations which make him feel anxious and teaches him how to cope.

In addition to therapy and learned relaxation techniques, doctors will sometimes recommend prescription medication for anxiety -- most often benzodiazepines like Xanax. These medications should not be taken for more than a few months at a time and should not be relied upon as a permanent treatment option. They can be highly addictive and can also produce disturbing side effects, which makes many examine them closely before agreeing to try them.

In many cases, anxiety can be treated without any medication at all. In cases where medication is recommended, there are also natural treatment options for those who are reluctant to begin a regimen that includes prescription medications. If you decide to pursue this route to anxiety relief, look for remedies that include ingredients like passion flower, which is also used to alleviate hypertension, insomnia and nervous tension. Other effective ingredients are lavender, which is one of the most popular panic attack treatments, and lemon balm, a natural anxiety treatment that also serves as a general tonic for the nervous system.

Whichever methods you employ, remember that there are many effective methods of treatment for anxiety and depression, and that patience and persistence will eventually lead you the healthy option that is best for you.

Webmaster: You are authorized to reprint this article providing the author bio/resource box is left completely in tact - including all hyperlinks.

Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to Native Remedies - where you can find All Natural Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies for many health conditions including natural treatments for anxiety and panic attack treatments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tess_Thompson
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