How to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is when a person becomes anxious in situations with other people. People diagnosed with social anxiety disorder feel that they are being judged or watched when they are around other people. You should seek out professional help to treat the disorder.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask your doctor for specialist recommendations. He may wish to send you to a psychiatrist or psychoanalyst for treatment of social anxiety disorder.

• 2

  Let the psychiatrist know about your symptoms. Common symptoms of social anxiety disorder are apprehension in social situations, attempts to avoid social settings, and physically anxious symptoms.

• 3

  Undergo any physical and psychological testing recommended by the doctor. They should give you a physical to rule out the possibility of a medical reason for your anxiety symptoms.

• 4

  Go through behavior therapy with a therapist if diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. The therapist uses methods to help the person react differently when faced with social situations.

• 5

  Take any medications recommended by the therapist. Antidepressants and tranquilizers are two forms of drug therapies used to treat social anxiety disorder.

• 6

  Practice deep breathing. If faced with an uncomfortable social situation, people with social anxiety disorder can calm themselves by taking slow and cleansing breaths.