(Also Known As: Social Anxiety Treatment, Anxiety Disorder Treatment, Anxiety Treatment, Social Phobia Treatment, Anxiety Disorders Treatment)
Treating anxiety involves psychological counseling and at times medication in order to lessen related anxiety and depression. This is most effective for people suffering from generalized anxiety and fear over many social situations. For those who fear only a single or few social situations, like speaking in public or eating in front of others, professional counseling can help overcome the fear. 7
The problem is most people do not seek treatment for their anxiety disorders. They believe that the symptoms are not bad enough or they can treat the condition on their own. However, treating anxiety is vital.
Initial and Current Treatment
Initial treatment of social anxiety depends on the degree of your emotional and physical symptoms as well as your ability to perform daily activities. Individuals suffering from social anxiety have depression as well. Likewise, they can also suffer from alcohol or substance abuse.
In treating anxiety, it is important to determine the kinds and situations that trigger the anxiety. At first, you may become uncomfortable while addressing the fear but it is vital to the recovery phase. In treating anxiety, several types of cognitive-behavioral therapy are used.
Exposure Therapy. A professional counselor will help the patient imagine the situation they fear until the fear disappears. In the next step of this method of treating anxiety, the counselor will actually go with the patient to a public place and eat there until the patient is able to eat in a public place without being afraid.
Social Skills Training. In this method of treating anxiety, the patient develops the skills needed in social situations by rehearsing and role playing. As the patient becomes comfortable with the social situation, the anxiety is reduced.
Cognitive Restructuring. In this method of treating anxiety, the therapist helps the patient identify and improve fearful thoughts in order to help them better handle the social situation.
Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment (This Page)