How to Cope With Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders. Since the FDA approved medication for treatment of social anxiety disorder in 1999, it has received greater recognition and attention. Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social interaction to the point of severe emotional distress and physiological symptoms. It's extremely challenging for sufferers to cope with many situations in everyday life. However, with proper treatment, positive attitude, patience and commitment, many of the debilitating effects of social anxiety disorder can be overcome.

Things You'll Need

• Support from others
• Medication (optional)
• Guidance from a mental-health professional
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (optional)

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Instructions

Create a Strategy to Cope With Social Anxiety Disorder

• 1

  Get properly diagnosed by a mental-health professional. There's a difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder, and you can't diagnose yourself. A psychologist or a psychiatrist can help explain the differences and diagnose your problem.

• 2

  Be aware that you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 15 million adult Americans suffer from social anxiety disorder.

• 3

  Discuss available medications with a psychiatrist. Several selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are approved by the FDA for treating social anxiety disorder, and other drugs have been shown to be beneficial. A doctor can explain the different options to you and prescribe the right medication.

• 4

  Try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a psychotherapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy is widely used to help those with social anxiety disorder change the way they think and behave in social situations.

• 5

  Join a support group for social anxiety disorder. Interacting with other social phobia sufferers has the dual purpose of providing emotional support as well as an opportunity to practice social-interaction skills. Some cognitive behavior therapy is also done in groups.

• 6

  Focus on your positive traits. Social phobia can cause you to constantly revisit things you don't like about yourself to justify why you feel you are being judged by others.

• 7

  Discuss your disorder with close friends and family. Social phobia is still widely misunderstood by the public. Explaining your condition to the people closest to you can help establish a support network on which you can depend.