Treatment of Social Phobia

Anxiety Disorders

Treatment of Social Phobia

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

The most effective long-term treatment for social phobia is cognitive-behavioral therapy. Used in this context, cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to change wrong attitudes about social situations (cognitive) and to enhance the participants’ social skills (behavioral). Many participants find it helpful to have a councilor take them through the program. However, the therapy requires that the individual have a strong desire to make a change themselves.

Steps in the Treatment

First, the participants are taught relaxation techniques. Anxiety is a controlling emotion for many sufferers. Participants learn how to relax even in the midst of a stressful situation. They may be taught, for example, ‘shoppers relaxation’. This technique has the participant imagine that, just home from a shopping trip, they can now collapse into an easy chair. Even just imagining this situation can relax the muscles, and dissolve anxiety from the body. Participants are taught to recall this feeling whenever they find themselves anxious.

Next, participants are given training in social skills. Those who have had social phobia since early childhood may not have basic verbal competence. Even those who were affected later in life may need to brush up on human interaction. Participants learn how to read the body language of others. They are educated in conversational skills. This may include some tricks to get them through small talk confidently.

The final goal is to increase the participants’ self-confidence. This is done in gradual stages, and participants are encouraged to try new things at each step. For instance, an early goal might be to greet an acquaintance in their workplace. Perhaps going for drinks with a medium-sized group of friends would be next. Further along, a participant might be encouraged to go to a party. They may be shown how to make a confident sales presentation at work.

The key to improvement is self-reflection. Participants are taught to use introspection for good. They are to analyze their performance, but are not permitted to dwell on ‘failures’. Social events may be scrutinized, but only so a participant can gauge their own improvement.

Medication

There are now several medications that may be useful for sufferers. Unfortunately, all have their downsides, and none should be seen as a magic cure, or even a long-term solution.

Any of a range of tranquilizers, such as benzodiazepines, may be prescribed. The intention is to take the edge off the anxiety felt by many sufferers. There are few side effects to modern tranquilizers. However, all drugs of this type are addictive. Benzodiazepines are considered unsafe to use for more than three weeks at a time. No tranquilizer is suitable for long-term use.

Antidepressants are often prescribed, with mixed success. If depression is really the primary problem in a sufferer, then they are very effective. They are less useful when the depression is mainly a product of social anxiety. A sufferer who is exhibiting suicidal depression may be prescribed monoamine oxidase inhibitors as a last resort. These are extremely successful at controlling even deep depression, but come with very severe diet restrictions.