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Some people love being in the company of others and can’t wait to be around a lot of people. Yet this may be a different story for people living with social anxiety disorder.
If you have social anxiety, or social phobia, interacting with people on a social level doesn’t always come naturally. In fact, it can feel downright frightening.
Social anxiety disorder may cause self-consciousness and excessive worry and fear about social situations. You may fear being judged or humiliated in front of others.
In addition, socializing can invoke physical symptoms, such as:
- sweating
- trembling
- rapid heart rate
- nausea
- blushing
- shortness of breath
Social anxiety can affect your interactions at school or work, but it doesn’t have to dominate your life. Treatment can help you manage the condition and become more comfortable in social situations.
Here’s a look at a few ways to treat social anxiety.
Social anxiety is a type of anxiety condition that makes people feel anxious or fearful in social settings.
People who have social anxiety disorder might have a hard time meeting new people, talking to them, and possibly attending social events. Though they may know these are feelings of anxiety, they may still have difficulty overcoming them.
This type of disorder can be debilitating on a persistent basis and affect one’s ability to work, study, and create close relationships with non-family members.
We looked at different social anxiety disorder treatments and chose the best options based on what’s been scientifically proven to help with anxiety and this disorder in particular.
We also considered how many options each method offered, its availability in different markets, pricing, and whether insurance is accepted.
Benefits of therapy
There are a few benefits of therapy. The main one is that you can discuss your thoughts and feelings with your therapist, and they can help you discover the root cause of your social anxiety. This can be done both in-person as well as via an online therapy platform. The main one is that you can discuss your thoughts and feelings with your therapist, and they can help you discover the root cause of your social anxiety.
Other benefits of therapy can include:
- creating a plan to help overcome your anxiety
- having a safe space to express fears
- developing skills to acknowledge your triggers
- building healthier habits to deal with anxiety
Psychotherapy
If your social anxiety seems too overwhelming to handle, it’s important to speak with a mental health professional. Psychotherapy is an effective treatment on its own and might be even more effective when combined with medication.
In psychotherapy, you’ll learn techniques to change negative thoughts about yourself. This type of therapy can help you get to the root of your anxiety.
Through role-playing and other methods, you’ll learn how to improve your interactions in social settings, which can help build your confidence.
Teletherapy
It’s been found that teletherapy, or therapy delivered remotely, can benefit those with social anxiety disorder who might delay or avoid in-person therapy. This can be common due to anxiety over commuting to appointments and meeting someone new in person, even if their role is a mental health professional.
Having that extra space and time can actually improve outcomes for people living with social anxiety since their anxiety isn’t heightened by being in the physical presence of a therapist. Trust can build faster when patients feel more comfortable and are willing to share their concerns, which teletherapy can help with. Plus, there’s a higher level of anonymity and confidentiality since patients can be alone in their homes or private space.
Benefits of teletherapy for people with social anxiety disorder include:
- Convenience: there’s no commute or traffic, and you’re not running into people on your way to therapy. You also don’t need to worry about what you’re wearing or how you look, which you may focus on and feel stressed about for in-person meetings.
- Privacy: you’re able to stay in the comfort of your own home with no need to explain to anyone why you’re in therapy.
- Accessibility: it can often be stressful to find the right therapist who you connect well with. Teletherapy can take some of that stress away since you’re not limited to a specific geographic location and can choose from a wider pool of professionals.
Some of our top teletherapy platforms include:
- BetterHelp
- Talkspace
- Sesame Care
- PlushCare
- Amwell
- 7 Cups
Support groups
You may want to join a local or online support group for social anxiety. Here, you’ll connect with people who understand what you’re going through because they’re managing the same condition.
In a support group, you can share your experiences, learn coping techniques from others, and perhaps role-play together.
Speaking with a group and relating your fears is also excellent practice for interacting with others in social settings.
Realize you’re not alone
Support groups are a great reminder that you’re not the only one living with this type of phobia. Social settings and interactions are a source of anxiety and fear for lots of people.
If you’re worried about saying the wrong thing or being judged by people, keep in mind that others feel the same way. Remembering this can help as you navigate social situations.
Because social anxiety can be a severe, ongoing disorder, a mental health professional may prescribe medication to help you cope.
There are several types of medication for social anxiety disorder, and your doctor can help you determine which one might be right for you.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are often the first-line treatment for social anxiety and depression.
These medications — which include paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft) — work by increasing the level of serotonin in your brain.
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter, a molecule that helps send messages throughout your body. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and anxiety.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
If an SSRI doesn’t improve social anxiety, your doctor may prescribe another type of antidepressant to improve symptoms.
This may be an SNRI such as:
- duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
- levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
These medications also signal changes in brain chemistry to help improve mood and anxiety.
Antidepressants that work well in one person may not work well in another. That’s why your doctor may need to prescribe different medications until you find one that works for your individual symptoms.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
If your social anxiety is severe enough that you experience panic attacks, your doctor may prescribe you MAOIs. These are antidepressants that help prevent panic attacks.
MAOIs also work with chemicals in your brain to stop monoamine oxidase, which is the removal of certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and other chemicals that elevate your mood
Some popular forms of this drug are phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), which have been shown to help with panic attacks.
However, due to side effects, MAOIs are rarely prescribed anymore and have generally been replaced by antidepressants.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are commonly used to reduce high blood pressure but are sometimes prescribed to treat the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate, sweating, or tremors.
These medications — which include propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Tenormin) — block the stimulating effects of adrenaline. Beta-blockers are also an option for performance anxiety, which is a type of social anxiety.
Anti-anxiety medication
Anti-anxiety medications are also prescribed for social anxiety. Some of these medications include:
- diazepam (Valium)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
- alprazolam (Xanax)
These medications tend to work quickly, but they can be habit-forming or have a sedative effect. For this reason, your doctor may not prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for the long term.
Anti-anxiety medications shouldn’t be the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. However, doctors also know that some people won’t adequately respond to other types of treatment.
The decision to use these medications will need to be made after a discussion with your doctor, weighing how they may benefit you against the chance of dependence.
If your social anxiety isn’t severe, there are alternative methods you can take in place of, or in addition to, traditional methods to reduce the amount of anxiety you face when you’re in social situations.
Alternative therapies
Alternative therapies along with conventional treatment might also reduce anxiety and help you cope with social phobia.
Some alternative therapies to consider include:
- meditation
- yoga
- deep breathing exercises
- acupuncture
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes may also have a positive impact on anxiety in general. If you’re able to reduce your overall anxiety level, it might be easier to cope in social settings.
Getting regular physical activity is one change you can make. Exercise increases your brain’s production of endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that regulate mood and anxiety. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.
You can also lessen anxiety by knowing your limitations. Having too much on your plate can heighten anxiety, so practice saying no to events you don’t really want to attend and try your best to prioritize rest, relaxation, and self-care.
Avoid or limit caffeine
Caffeinated drinks — such as coffee, tea, and soda — can provide a much-needed pick-me-up. But if you have anxiety, caffeine can make you feel worse, and it might even trigger panic attacks.
If you can’t give up coffee or tea, try to cut back on the amount you consume each day.
Even though up to 400 milligrams per day is safe for healthy adults, according to the
So, you might need to drink less of it if you’re managing social anxiety.
Practice being social
Practice can be a great weapon against social anxiety.
Rather than fear social settings, ease into these situations with baby steps. Simply avoiding social interactions could potentially worsen anxiety.
You can also practice talking to people. For example, say “Good morning” or offer a compliment to a coworker. This can be as simple as, “I like your hair.”
Also, try to make eye contact when speaking with people. If you’re in a retail store, you can take a small step like asking a sales associate for help.
Prepare for social events
Rather than turn down invitations to all social events, prepare for them in advance. Role-playing and practicing conversation starters is an excellent way to build confidence.
If you’re aware of the guest list, consider the interests of those attending. Maybe someone recently went on vacation or started a new job. If so, prepare a few questions to break the ice and pave the way for a conversation.
Avoid questions with a yes or no answer, though. Remember, the idea is to converse. So, instead of asking, “Did you enjoy your trip to Florida?” ask “What did you like about your trip to Florida?”
In most cases, the other person will open up and get the conversation started. The more you talk, the less anxious you’ll feel, and it’ll be easier to speak with others.
With different types of treatment for social anxiety out there, it can be tough to know exactly which option is the best choice. Above all, it comes down to who you are and what you need.
Your decision should account for factors such as:
- your lifestyle
- how long you want the treatment to last
- how easy it is to implement and stick to the treatment over time
- cost
- whether or not insurance is accepted
- what you’re most comfortable with
If you find that you regularly go out of your way to avoid social situations because of anxiety or fear, you may want to consider seeking help. For instance, if you’ve noticed that your anxiety causes social isolation or big life changes (like dropping out of school or unemployment over a long period of time), it may be time to start seeing a mental health professional.
That said, it’s important to recognize if and when you might need professional help before getting to points like these. Your life can be adversely affected in the long run without getting the treatment you might need.
What is the most effective treatment for social anxiety?
There are many types of effective treatment for social anxiety. One treatment plan isn’t better than the other, mainly because they’re all suited for different types of people and their specific needs and situations.
That said, experts believe that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is very effective. Psychotherapy, teletherapy, support groups, and medication are all great options, too.
It’s best to talk with a mental health professional to explore the best treatment for you.
Can social anxiety be avoided?
You can try to avoid social anxiety, or at least extreme cases of it, by taking gradual, small steps in social situations. You can start with something you can handle relatively well, like seeing a small group of 2 to 4 people in a casual setting and work your way up to tougher scenarios from there.
This can help you build confidence and coping mechanisms to help you mitigate or avoid more severe social anxiety.
Can social anxiety be cured?
With the right mindset, and openness to trying different strategies and lifestyle changes, along with treatments that include professional help, social anxiety can be at least mitigated, if not cured, over time.
Although anxiety and fear in social settings are common, you may feel that you’re alone or that your situation is hopeless. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Treatment can help you overcome your phobia. You can start with home remedies such as exercise and deep breathing.
But if these don’t work, talk with your doctor about prescription medication or counseling. Mental health professionals can help you cope with anxiety and become more sociable.
Visit the American Psychiatric Association website to find a mental health professional in your area.
