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Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment: What To Know?

Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment: What To Know?

Blog Outline

We all have had instances in life where we worried about meeting new people or being close to them. Like in school, you would get a heavy feeling about meeting the new students when going to a new class or section. But when this type of feeling gets out of hand and is literally affecting your daily life then it is time to seek social anxiety disorder treatment before it’s too late. In addition to that, we’ll also discuss social anxiety treatment goals and how to reach them with Orange Coast Psychiatry’s experts.

Defining Social Anxiety Disorder

Also called social phobia, it is a common mental health disorder that affects up to 7% of adults in the US, annually. SAD is characterized by an extreme fear of social situations and social gatherings, from being on a stage in front of an audience to attending a party. Affected individuals fear they will be scrutinized and humiliated by other people. This can cause intense distress and can keep them from doing things they want to do.

Read More: Can Anxiety Disorder Cause High Blood Pressure? Insights About The Connection

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

While the main symptom is the extreme fear of being scrutinized or embarrassed, there are other things that might help you identify weak spots for your social anxiety disorder treatment. These are:

  • excessive sweat
  • blushing
  • having a rapid heartbeat
  • trembling
  • nausea
  • shortness of breath

Any Relation to Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

As part of being included in the family of anxiety disorders, it will obviously link up to generalized anxiety disorder. Let’s see how:

Generally speaking, there are two types of social anxiety disorder. Usually, people with SAD have generalized social anxiety, which is where they fear all social scenarios and it begins in childhood or teenage years. Symptoms typically get worse over time, especially if it is left untreated. These symptoms tend to be persistent and severe. This stress starts to affect relationships, jobs, daily routines, and overall quality of life, essentially it is an obstacle to the executive functioning of the affected individual.

The uncommon version, which is performance-only social anxiety, is characterized only by fear of times when affected individuals are the center of attention, for example, acting on stage in front of a lot of people. Performance anxiety is not as impairing as generalized social anxiety and starts later in life but nonetheless should be treated with social anxiety disorder treatment.

Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder

It’s a combination and influence of both nature and nurture as both biological and environmental factors are in play. SAD develops as a response to a complex interaction of neural networks in your brain, as well as due to psychosocial factors which include the influence of life events, thoughts, and behaviors. Knowing this will help you pave the way for tinkering with a suitable social anxiety treatment plan for you with the help of an expert. These causes can also be related to:

  • gender
  • family history of social anxiety disorder
  • shy personality
  • demonstrated intense fear of new people and
  • a habit of withdrawal from new situations during childhood

Read More: Is Social Anxiety Disorder A Disability?

How to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

Trying to reach the treatment goals for social anxiety should involve a proper diagnosis first. Your healthcare provider will want to determine whether other conditions may be causing and they can judge that by looking at some indicators such as the ones listed below:

  • Physical examination that helps assess if any medical condition or medication may trigger symptoms of anxiety
  • Initial consultation with an expert where you and that expert talk about your symptoms, how often they occur, and in what situations
  • Review a list of situations to see if they make you anxious
  • Self-reporting questionnaires about social anxiety symptoms
  • Criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association

The Actual Treatment Plan for Social Anxiety Disorder

The actual treatment plan for social anxiety disorder should involve psychotherapy and medication.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

One of the most suitable to treat social anxiety is through cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a type of psychotherapy (also called “talk” therapies). A first-line social anxiety disorder treatment, it is where trained mental health professionals help you understand your triggers and learn coping strategies. One of the most important social anxiety treatment goals in a CBT is to challenge your negative thoughts and learn behavioral strategies to overcome them.

This is also where the affected individual does role-playing and social skills training as part of your therapy as part of the treatment plan for social anxiety. It is also where you get to practice these newly learned skills on your own. Additionally, as part of social anxiety treatment goals the therapy is also complemented by lifestyle changes such as exercise (1), getting enough sleep, and limiting alcohol and caffeine, so you are more focused on the mental challenges of therapy.

Medication

As part of a proper social anxiety treatment plan, antidepressants such as the one called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first choice for prescription for social anxiety disorder treatment which are used to neurologically relieve the persistent symptoms of social anxiety. Examples are paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft). For recommendations on the side effects always consult with a professional

Other Medications

Anti-anxiety medications such as Benzodiazepines may reduce your level of anxiety because they often work quickly. Although, they can be habit-forming and sedating, so are usually prescribed for only short-term use(2)

Beta-blockers. These medications work by blocking the stimulating effect of epinephrine (adrenaline). They may reduce symptoms such as heart rate, blood pressure, pounding of the heart, and shaking voice and limbs. Because of that, they may work best when used with intervals. They are usually not recommended for the general treatment of social anxiety disorder.

Read More: Generalized anxiety vs panic disorder: A Closer Look

Conclusion

Hope you got all of the above about proper social anxiety disorder treatment. If you are still confused, you can always make an appointment with Orange Coast Psychiatry to treat this an ailment like the social anxiety disorder treatment and such as the ones called ADHD, Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, MDD, and Bipolar Disorder via alternative social anxiety disorder treatment methods like telehealth psychiatry!

References and Footnotes
  1. https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/managing-anxiety/exercise-stress-and-anxiety
  2. Bounds CG, Patel P. Benzodiazepines. [Updated 2024 Jan 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470159/

Frequently Asked Questions

By making some lifestyle changes such as exercising or changing sleep patterns.

Life events and stressful experiences.

While medications do not cure anxiety, they can help you manage symptoms for better executive functioning

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Richard Samedra.

PMHNP-BC

Richard Samedra, PMHNP-BC, is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He brings over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, working with clients facing a wide range of acute and chronic mental health conditions. His journey began as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and Charge Nurse at Westminster Therapeutic Residential Treatment, where he supported clients dealing with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Richard’s dedication was centered on helping these individuals improve their mental health and transition to a lower level of care, whether that meant returning to their families, a board and care facility, or a sober-living environment.

Motivated by a growing passion for mental health care, Richard pursued his Registered Nurse (RN) education at Saddleback Community College and later transitioned to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital Behavioral Health. In this role, he specialized in geriatric psychiatry, working with older adults experiencing conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. This experience solidified his commitment to mental health, leading him to work at Bellflower Community Hospital, where he provided care for patients experiencing severe psychiatric crises, including suicidal ideation, manic and depressive episodes, substance use disorders, and exacerbated schizophrenia symptoms.

Inspired by the impactful work of PMHNPs at Bellflower, Richard enrolled in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Azusa Pacific University. To broaden his expertise, he worked full-time at College Hospital Costa Mesa while completing his studies. There, he gained comprehensive experience across various units, including adolescent, acute men’s and women’s, stabilization, and detox/med-surg. Now, as a PMHNP, Richard is committed to leveraging his diverse background and knowledge to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to those in need.

Richard currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where he is supervised by Dr. Montgomery.

 

Shaheena Gazipura

PMHNP-BC

Shaheena Gazipura is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 9 years of dedicated experience in both inpatient and outpatient mental health care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.

Shaheena began her career working on an adult psychiatric inpatient unit before transitioning to the geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. In addition to her clinical work, Shaheena also serves as a Nursing Clinical Instructor, guiding the next generation of nurses through their mental health rotations at a large community college.

Shaheena is a passionate advocate for mental health, believing that it is a fundamental pillar of overall well-being. She is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and strives to provide comprehensive, compassionate care that honors each individual’s unique experiences and challenges. Her goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where patients feel empowered to work alongside her in achieving their mental health goals.

Outside of her professional life, Shaheena enjoys exploring new culinary experiences, staying active through exercise, and planning her next travel adventures.

Shaheena currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Clint Nacar

PMHNP-BC

Clint Nacar, PMHNP-BC is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Mr. Nacar graduated from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Currently Mr. Nacar works in an inpatient psychiatry unit at a leading academic medical center in Los Angeles, Renewed Mental Health Group, and Orange Coast Psychiatry

Mr. Nacar brings over 7+ years of experience with the mental health population. He works to help patients take control of their mental health through patient education, psychotherapy and medication management. Mr. Nacar’s areas of focus include: Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mr. Nacar treats children ages 6+, adolescents, and adults, offering both in-person services and telehealth at Renewed Mental Health Group.

With the collaboration of each patient, Mr. Nacar strives to develop individualized plans of care addressing each patient’s unique situation and concerns. He also encourages each patient to take charge of their mental health through a holistic approach while also employing the latest evidence based practices in treatment.

Clint is one of our most experienced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is 103NP Licensed in the State of California.

Cristian Cuevas

PMHNP-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

Cristian Cuevas, PMHNP-BC, is a highly skilled board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over seven years of experience in inpatient psychiatry and mental health.

A California State University Long Beach graduate, Cristian also earned recognition as a board-certified psychiatric mental health registered nurse. With a wealth of expertise in adult psychiatric care across the lifespan, Cristian has successfully diagnosed and treated a diverse range of mental health disorders.

Additionally, his specialized experience in child and adolescent inpatient populations further enhances his ability to provide comprehensive and compassionate mental health care.

Cristian Cuevas is the Lead Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is supervised by Dr Barrios.

Griselda Hernandez

PMHNP-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

As a licensed Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a robust background in psychiatric and substance abuse nursing, Griselda provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges. The core of her practice focuses on promoting holistic wellness, fostering resilience, and empowering patients in their recovery journey. Specializing in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adolescents with various mental health disorders, Griselda strives to create a therapeutic environment where patients feel valued, respected, and supported.
“My approach is grounded in years of diverse experience, including work in psychiatric units and medical detox units for both adults and adolescents. This extensive background has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to manage complex psychiatric and substance abuse conditions effectively. I am committed to staying updated with the latest advancements in psychiatric care, integrating cutting-edge therapies and best practices into my treatment plans. Collaboration is key to my practice; I work closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, and community resources to provide coordinated and comprehensive care tailored to each individual’s unique needs.”
Griselda holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric-Mental Health from West Coast University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Additionally, she is fluent in the English and Spanish language, enhancing her ability to connect with a diverse patient population.
Griselda currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Dr Barrios

Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr. Carlos Barrios is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in mental health care. His expertise in telepsychiatry has allowed him to serve patients across California and beyond. In his practice, Dr Barrios integrates metabolic and functional methodologies, focusing on guiding patients toward medication independence and emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health.
Outside of his professional life, Dr Barrios is passionate about kettlebell training, which helps him maintain my physical and mental wellness. He cherishes visiting his family in Guatemala, to reconnecting with his cultural roots and rejuvenating his spirit. Dr Barrios is also deeply involved in transcendental meditation and rucking, practices that not only provide him with tranquility but also keep him grounded and connected to nature. These hobbies reflect his commitment to a holistic approach to health, both personally and professionally.