Social Anxiety Blog

Driving Anxiety

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:14:00 +0000

I can remember when I lived for road trips, traveling brought me a sense of peace and adventure. Unfortunately, I had my first bout of driving anxiety several years back and driving has not been the same for me since.

After my first bout of driving anxiety, I stopped travelling for fear of having a panic attack while traveling. I let that one episode of driving anxiety stop me from doing something that brought me so much pleasure for years.

I recently decided that I was going to start traveling again in spite of my anxiety. I started out kind of slow by traveling to the edge of town and then over the course of several months drove further and further. I know this would sound ridiculous for anyone who has never experienced anxiety or panic attacks! :-)

I have some friends that live around 300 miles away and hadn't seen them in several years; that would be my first task driving to see my friends. I decided it was worth being anxious in order to see my friends.

The day of the trip I was extremely anxious. However, I told myself I could handle this, jumped in the car and headed out. I also gave myself permission to turn around at any given moment during the trip if my anxiety became overwhelming. I experienced several panic attacks including one really bad on half way to my destination, but I really wanted to see my friends and I kept going.

Yes I was uncomfortable the entire trip, but I made it! This was a huge victory for me and I realized that I really could live my life and do anything in spite of my anxiety. Take your time, be compassionate with yourself, and realize that you are going to be anxious, but you can handle it. And if you can't, turn around and try again tomorrow!

Anxiety, Depression, and Serotonin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Anxiety, Depression, and Serotonin

If you have suffered from anxiety or depression, chances are you have done some research on the subject and have heard of Serotonin. If not, then listen up.

Though I have a clinical background I am not technical (at least not in terms), so I will define serotonin and its properties as simple as possible. Serotonin is a hormone that our brain produces to help us feel good. Serotonin is partly responsible for regulating mood, curbing anxiety and depression, and relieving stress to name a few of its attributes. Serotonin can also be found in many foods we eat. Here is a list of foods that have high and moderate amounts of serotonin:

High Serotonin Levels Moderate Level of Serotonin

Tomatoes Avocado

Pineapple Cauliflower

Plantains Broccoli

Banana Cantaloupe

Kiwi Eggplant

Plums Dates

Figs

Grapefruit

Honeydew Melon

Spinach

In many cases, anxiety and depression can be completely eliminated through a simple diet change (implementing the foods above), a regular exercise routine, and proper breathing exercises. The reason why these little changes are so effective goes back to serotonin.

When we take care of our bodies by consuming good fuel and exercise regularly we feel better. This is because our production of serotonin is optimized. If we eat bad and are sedentary, our bodies tend to not function as well thus do not produce optimum levels of serotonin thus the consequence is generally moodiness, anxiety, depression and so forth. If you’re looking for a quick fix to anxiety, get your serotonin production up!

What is Social Phobia?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:55:00 +0000

What is social phobia? Social phobia is another term for social anxiety or social anxiety disorder. This could be defined as anyone who has a debilitating fear in certain social settings. The setting is generally called a trigger. Triggers are things that bring on the sensation of anxiety which is associated with the event/trigger.

Some triggers may include a crowd of people, a crowd of people in which it is difficult to find a way out (parade, night club, the mall, etc.), public speaking, driving in traffic, and many other events. The trigger could have developed suddenly or gradually over time. For example, if you went to the mall and did something embarrassing, you may associate that experience with the mall rather than an isolated incident. For anxiety sufferers, this one incident is enough to cause nervousness upon returning to the mall.

For those who don't suffer from social phobia, it can be difficult to relate. Often times, the loved ones or friends of someone who suffers from anxiety think the person is being silly, they harass them or make fun of them. This only further perpetuates the feelings of anxiety. Think about it, no one wants to feel bad or feel like they are living in fear. They are not trying to embarrass you or ruin the party. They have social anxiety and they need and deserve your support.

I hope this sheds a little light on what exactly social phobia is. Feel free to ask questions or if you would like me to expand or need additional information on anxiety related issues, just let me know!

Situational Anxiety

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Many anxiety sufferers have certain triggers or events that can bring about the uncomfortable feelings associated with anxiety. I refer to this as situational anxiety. For example, those who have social anxiety may feel fine when they are at home or with family, yet when they get in a social setting or in an area with a lot of people, anxiety comes creeping in.

One of the events that triggers my anxiety is driving. I'm fine driving around my town, but when I get out on the open road, I begin to allow negative thoughts to take over. I start thinking what if I have an anxiety attack so far from home? What if my car breaks down and I have an anxiety attack? What if I lose control in front of my friends?

Once you start down the road of what if thinking, it can be difficult to get back on track. Last week I went for a drive several hundred miles from home. My anxiety went up and down and I even suffered one panic attack. However, I kept driving to my destination.

What I took away from this experience was to prepare for situations that I know may trigger my anxiety. I took my anxiety medication on the trip as a security blanket. Though, even after having a panic attack I did not take them.

I also brought along two good friends of mine that are understanding and good conversationalists. This was extremely helpful.

If you are going in to a situation that triggers your anxiety, plan ahead. Don't let anxiety rule your life. I went on that trip in spite of my anxiety. Yes I was uncomfortable, but it was better than staying home and feeling bad that I gave in. The more you plan ahead and practice situations that are difficult, the less intense the anxiety will be and the better you will feel about yourself. Of course, if the anxiety gets too bad, be compassionate with yourself and have a back-up plan. Mine was to turn around if it got to bad and go back home. My friends were aware and cool with that and I wouldn't have felt bad about it.

Overcome Shyness

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Just because you may be shy does not necessarily mean you have a social anxiety disorder. Though, shyness can lead to social phobia. Here are a few tips for overcoming shyness:

Try to think of why it is you are shy. Are you worried how people will react to you, are you afraid of being judged or just don't feel comfortable around people? There is nothing wrong with being shy, but if you want to overcome shyness, then you are going to have to face some fears.

Facing your fears can be quite scary, but it all depends on the attitude you have. If you are tired of living in fear and truly want to overcome shyness, then you need to put yourself out there. Start out slow.

Invite a friend out to lunch or even to go watch a movie. Join a book club or other low key social group. If you are really shy you can start out joining an online forum about something you are interested in. Try to find like minded people and get into discussions about something you both have in common.

If you are going to overcome shyness, you need to take a leap of faith. If these ideas are terribly frightening to you, that's ok. Take your time; it's possible you could benefit from a self-help program or even a few sessions of therapy. Remember, there is nothing wrong with being shy. However, if you want to overcome shyness, then you are going to have to work at it.

Social Anxiety Affirmations

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:53:00 +0000

I've known about the power of positive affirmations for some time. Though, I only recently thought about applying affirmations for social anxiety. I started searching the web to find some really good social anxiety affirmations and I came across this forum post:

Every day in every way I'm getting better and better.
My life is blossoming in total perfection.
I am the master of my life.
Everything I need is already within me.
Perfect wisdom is in my heart.
I love and appreciate myself just as i am.
I accept all my feelings as part of me,.
I love to love and be loved.
The more I love myself, the more love I have to give others.
I now give and receive love freely.
I'm now attracting loving, satisfying, relationships into my life.
I feel happy just being alive.
I am healthy and beautiful.
I love my life.
I like myself.
I love others.

These social anxiety affirmations were posted on social anxiety support just wanted to share. These were the best ones I've come across so far.

Social Anxiety Forum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:41:00 +0000

For many who suffer from social anxiety, getting help can be difficult due to hang-ups about 'shrinks', or financial reasons or even embarrassment. Sometimes the best social anxiety support can come from just talking with others who experience social anxiety and can relate.

A Social anxiety forum is a great place to get support. A Social anxiety forum gives you the ability to ask questions, vent and all the while remaining anonymous.

Here a re a list of sites for social anxiety support as well as a social anxiety forum:
Social Anxiety Support
Heal Social Anxiety
Anxiety Tribe
Daily Strength

Im sure there are many social anxiety forums out there as well as many site for social anxiety support, though these are the ones I am familiar with and highly reccomend.

And if you are ready to go beyond your social anxiety don't forget to check out Panic Away, great for all anxiety related disorders.

Social Anxiety: Fear of Public Speaking

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:20:00 +0000

Social Anxiety is a common form of anxiety disorder. Many people experience the symptoms of social anxiety while in large crowds or public places. Others may experience the symptoms of social anxiety or social phobia when speaking in public.

For those who have a fear of public speaking, the intense fear can be overwhelming--sweaty palms, nausea, light headedness, upset stomach--these are just some of the symptoms of social anxiety associated with the fear of public speaking.

Often, this fear can hold people back from achieving goals and interfere with normal everyday life. Though fear of public speaking is quite common, for some it becomes a disorder.

For those who have to speak in public due to job duties or whatever the case may be, the fear can be so overwhelming that many public speaking phobics end up quiting or losing their job or other important social positions.

While it may seem impossible for some to overcome the fear of public speaking, may they be reminded that this is a phobia--social anxiety or social phobia--it is very much treatable and in some cases totally reversible.

The best methods of treatment for fear of public speaking involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy and Self-Help Programs. There are also medications to help alleviate the symptoms of social phobia, though that's all they do--alleviate the symptoms--medication does not get to the root cause.

Therapy is generally the best method for treating fear of public speaking, though it is not always available for some(no insurance, cannot afford treatment, etc.). The other highly effective treatment is a comprehensive Self-Help program.

There are many Self-Help programs available to help those suffering from social anxiety, regardless of the underlying symptoms (fear of flying, fear of public speaking, fear of driving in traffic etc.).

However, I will only recommend those in which I have thoroughly reviewed and have had personal experience with myself. Please check the following links out and see what you think. As I said, there are lots of programs, though these are the best in my opinion.

Panic Away
The Linden Method

Social Anxiety Support

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:47:00 +0000

Social anxiety support groups can be a great way to not only overcome social anxiety, but meet new people, thus interacting in social situations. If you have ever gone to a social anxiety support group, you may have been nervous at first and experienced high levels of anxiety. Though, if you keep going the anxiety subsides and you can feel comfortable while gaining the social anxiety support you need.

I am pointing this out because if you think about it, it would make sense to experience anxiety in a social anxiety support group as this is a social situation- but you don't. Why is that? You are interacting with a group of other people, why aren't you anxious?

The reason is because your brain has not associated anxiety with the social anxiety support group. If you go with an open mind and are willing to share and relate to others, it is highly likely that you will not experience anxiety. This goes back to the post right before this, 'Social Anxiety: What are we Afraid of?' If you have not read that post, go back and read it after this- very important! I talk about what we are really afraid of, and it's not social situations!

If you have never been to a social anxiety support group, I recommend you try it out. If you are not quite up to going to an actual group, you can first try one out online. A great social anxiety support group can be found at www.socialanxietysupport.com.

Social anxiety support groups can be effective because you are talking with others who experience the same anxiety. They are not going to judge you or look down on you- they are there for support to.

If you suffer from social anxiety and don't want to go on medication, therapy, or not sure what to do- going to a social anxiety support group could be the first step in overcoming your social anxiety.

Social Anxiety: What are we Afraid of?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:40:00 +0000

When we suffer from social anxiety, we often think we know what we are afraid of. We think we are afraid of being embarrassed by doing something or saying something stupid. We may be afraid that others might be judging us or disapproving of us-the way we look, the clothes we wear. The truth is that we are not afraid of any of these things. We are afraid of our feelings. We are afraid of fear!

When we begin to have those anxious thoughts, we then get a pit in our stomach or a hot sensation-maybe we get sweaty or clammy- heat pounding- getting dizzy- and so on and so on. We start to experience the physical symptoms of our social anxiety. We experience these symptoms as a result of our thoughts and what we expect to happen. We are expecting to be judged or to get embarrassed. Our thoughts race and our bodies follow.

After experiencing the physical symptoms of social anxiety for the first time, we may then attribute those feelings and symptoms to what we are doing, who we were with, or the situation/gathering/function we were partaking in. What we are really doing is programming ourselves to fear.

We think that if we think about the situation or analyze that we can figure it out- that we can fix ourselves and not have those feelings or experience that fear again. Unfortunately, we then come across another situation that is similar to the first event and we start to think, “Oh No! What if it happens again? What If I lose control or get embarrassed?”

This of course triggers the physical symptoms of our social anxiety and here we go again. So you can easily see how we are actually afraid of the fear of being anxious or the fear of experiencing the symptoms of social anxiety rather than afraid of the situation itself, right?

This is the ongoing cycle of fear and anxiety. To break this cycle takes a great deal of work. You would think it would be easy, “Ok, so I’m really just afraid of experiencing anxiety, so next time I will just ignore it.” It’s not that easy. It took time to program your mind to be over anxious, it will also take time to program your mind to accept your anxiety and overcome your fears.

If you haven’t heard of Panic Away- this is a self-help program that walks you through the process of overcoming your social anxiety and really elaborates on what I have been blogging about all along. Panic-Away is a non-evasive program that has helped thousands of people recover from social anxiety. At the very least you should check out their website, you got nothing to lose, except your anxiety and fear!

>>STOP LIVING IN FEAR-GET THE FACTS-GET PANIC AWAY<<

Social Anxiety Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:13:00 +0000

The symptoms of social anxiety may often be misunderstood as shyness, or anti-social behavior. Social anxiety symptoms can include both physical as well as emotional symptoms. The more common symptoms are as follows:

Intense anxiety or fear in social situations
Reoccurring avoidance of social situations
Sweating/shaking
Upset stomach
Dizziness
Muscle tension
Blushing
Pounding heart

Though many people experience a variety of symptoms, these are the more common symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

Educating yourself about the symptoms of social anxiety disorder can be the first step towards recognizing that the disorder exists and getting help. If you or someone you know suffers from any of the above mentioned symptoms, it is highly likely that social anxiety disorder may be the cause.

Social anxiety does not have to impede on your life. There are numerous methods of treatment for this disorder. Talk to a medical professional or a mental health professional to learn more about social anxiety treatment. Also, if you do not feel comfortable with talking to a doctor or counselor, there are self-help programs available. The one I highly recommend is Panic Away. You can check it out at the link I have provided below.

>>RID YOURSELF OF SOCIAL ANXIETY FAST<<

Social Anxiety and Depression

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:45:00 +0000

Did you know that social anxiety can lead to depression? Unfortunately, many social anxiety sufferers avoid social situations such as going out into public situations where they may fear experiencing anxiety. Often, social anxiety may keep a person locked up in their house. The lack of socialization or social contact can lead to depression.
It's not always the case that someone who suffers from social anxiety is shy or anti-social. Actually, many social anxiety sufferers tend to be very outgoing, enjoy socializing and making new friends. Though, the experience of anxiety in social situations deters them from engaging in future social events for fear of experiencing anxiety.

In fact, this is a common cycle for all anxiety sufferers (those suffering from ocd, agoraphobia, GAD, etc.). Once that initial anxiety fear is experienced, they relay the anxiety with the experience at that time. As they continue to experience anxiety in situations they manifest more fear and attach that fear or anxiety to the situation.

Experiencing anxiety is scary. Once you add depression to someone who has anxiety, this is extremely detrimental. Though there is treatment for both anxiety and depression, it can be difficult at first to see the light. This can be especially true when faced with having both issues as depression can really drain your energy and motivation.

Depression is like driving down a steep hill. You will accelerate in speed due to momentum. Depression can accelerate and get worse with time. If you suffer from social anxiety and find you are also starting to feel depressed, you need to act fast. The sooner you talk to someone or see a doctor the easier it is to overcome both anxiety and depression.

Social Anxiety

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:51:00 +0000

Social anxiety disorder is also referred to as social phobia. This is an anxiety disorder in which a person is abnormally fearful of social situations. The social anxiety stems from the fear of being scrutinized, judged, or criticized by others.

One who suffers from social anxiety may be afraid that he or she will do something to embarrass or humiliate themselves in front of others. A lack of social skills or not being used to social settings can make matters worse. Often, the anxiety can progress into an anxiety or panic attack. This can lead to the sufferer avoiding future social events. It’s also fairly common for people who suffer from social anxiety to also have what is
called anticipatory anxiety. This is basically the fear that something will happen before it actually happens and it can start days or even weeks before a certain event is to take place. Usually, the person who has these kinds of worries realizes that the fear is unreasonable, yet they are still unable to overcome it.

This type of anxiety disorder alters your way of thinking in the way that you view social events and the perception that others will disapprove of you. Without treatment, social anxiety disorder can negatively interfere with the individual's normal day to day routine, including school, work, social activities, and relationships.

Social anxiety disorder could be connected to other anxiety related disorders, such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. In fact, many people with this type of anxiety first seek help with complaints related to these other disorders, not because of social anxiety symptoms.

Tackling your anxiety alone may be difficult. If your anxiety begins to have the upper hand in your life, affecting the quality of your personal relationships or your productivity, you should talk doctor about treatment.

A doctor should discuss a variety of treatment methods with you so that you can get your social anxiety under control and enjoy a higher quality of life. He may prescribe you anti anxiety medication to help alleviate the anxiety or panic attack symptoms (be aware however that medications only mask the symptoms and not treat the anxiety). In addition to this, doctors often refer you to a mental health professional who works with you to modify your thought processes that lead to the worry, stress and fear that often accompany anxiety. Social Anxiety does not have to control your life; these are just a few of the many ways that you can get your social anxiety under control.

>>ALLEVIATE YOUR SOCIAL ANXIETY WITH PANIC AWAY<<

Anxiety and Medication

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:55:00 +0000

Many people may believe that anti anxiety medications might offer a quick solution to your anxiety problem. They are not always the best method of treatment, or necessary. Anti anxiety medication may include benzodiazepines--the more traditional anxiety medication--, SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), antidepressants or beta-blockers. Medication can help reduce your anxiety disorder while you receive therapy to get to the root of the problem. Though, just to let you know that these types of drugs don't cure the cause of the anxiety disorder and they do come with side effects. Taking these types of medications for an extended period of time is not recommended.

Benzodiazepines can reduce anxiety quickly--usually within an hour--so they are a good option if you are having a panic or anxiety attack. Side effects of benzodiazepines include sleepiness, fogginess, and/or a feeling of being uncoordinated, all of which can cause problems if you need to be functional and alert. Benzodiazepines take a long time to metabolize. For this reason, they can build up in your body if used for a long time. If you suffer from this build up, the side effects may worsen and you could develop slurred speech, confusion, depression, dizziness, inability to think clearly and reason, memory loss and nausea, or the inability to "feel" anything. Benzodiazepines decrease your anxiety but they also decrease feelings of pleasure and pain.

Most commonly prescribed antidepressants are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and they also carry side effects: nausea, nervousness, headaches, sleepiness, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, nausea, and weight gain.

The advantage of antidepressants versus traditional benzodiazepines is that the risk for dependency and abuse is less. However, the downside of antidepressants is that it takes several weeks for them to start working--so, they are not meant for a quick relief of panic attacks.

Beta blockers are generally used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems. But they can work for anxiety too by blocking the effects of norepinephrine; a stress hormone involved in the fight-or-flight response. Beta blockers alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety like rapid heart rate, sweating, dizziness, and trembling voice and hands but not the emotional side of anxiety.

These medications do not cure anxiety. Once you stop taking the medication, it is possible that the anxiety will come back if not treated (using therapy or some type of anxiety program). Therefore, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor or therapist about treatment options and how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you overcome anxiety permanently. Also, if you insist on taking medication, you should consider an herbal supplement such as Seredyn. Seredyn is a non-habit forming herbal supplement which utilizes natural ingredients which have been known to help alleviate anxiety.

>>LEARN MORE ABOUT SEREDYN<<

Social Anxiety Blog

Driving Anxiety

Anxiety, Depression, and Serotonin

Anxiety, Depression, and Serotonin

What is Social Phobia?

Situational Anxiety

Overcome Shyness

Social Anxiety Affirmations

Social Anxiety Forum

Social Anxiety: Fear of Public Speaking

﻿

Social Anxiety Support

Social Anxiety: What are we Afraid of?

Social Anxiety Symptoms

Social Anxiety and Depression

Social Anxiety

Anxiety and Medication