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Suggest Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder
Question: I am a student pursuing MBA. I had trouble dealing with criticism throught out my school and college years. Anxiety, lack of confidence, social issues, emotional instability are other problems. I try to be positive and start each day with a new perspective but every little thing demotivates me and I am easily affected. Fear of public speaking, ineffective communication have triggered the problem. Not being able to stand out in the crowd and make a niche for myself, feeling of discontentment continues. Please suggest ways to overcome the mentioned problems. I try to reach out to friends and family when I feel low. But then again too much dependance makes me feel bad again. I am stuck between trying to overcome all this, feeling weak and helpless at times. Its difficult for me to manage my behaviour, in classes and exams also and dealing with people. I experience anxiety sometimes, low self esteem otherwise. I get highly stressed and tensed also leading to sleep troublems at times.
Brief Answer:
You need counselling and behavior therapy
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
You are suffering from your problem since long and that must be quite distressing, I can understand.
Anxiety, lack of confidence, social issues, emotional instability,fear of public speaking, ineffective communication and not being able to stand out in the crowd are symptoms suggestive of Social Anxiety Disorder(Social Phobia).
As you are pursuing MBA, you are good at study though your problems are many.This suggest you are not suffering from any severe condition.You were more advanced in career, if you do not have these problems.But still you are on the way.
You go to family or friends when you are in more discomfort, but "do you tell them in which situation you are and what are your problems?"
Your lack of confidence due to your anxiety problems.
Your problems can be treated with help of psychotherapy.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy(CBT) is quite helpful in such cases and if you are good motivated and your therapist is good at CBT, you can be cured of this problem without medicines.8 to 10 sessions of 45 minutes each likely required.
Another is short term psycho dynamic psychotherapy.
Preferably some close family member should be involve in psychotherapy who can positively motivate you to get result early.
In simple words in your case CBT will work like,"Experience makes the man perfect". Means you have to actively pursue the situation in which you feel anxiety and fight with your situation by relaxation techniques.
If your treating doctor and you can mutually discuss and decide that you can be helped with some anti anxiety medicines, they can be given initially for early comfort.This include clonazepam, lorazepam and propranolol.
If you want to go for medicines only, SSRI group of medicines are quite helpful.
The thing here is you never consulted professional.
Just consult Psychiatrist or Clinical Psychologist to move forward and get rid of your problem.
One another possibility is some personality disorder and for that too detail history from you and your family members required.
I would like to help you further and for that I want to know something form you,"Have you ever seek professional help? Have you discuss your problem with your parents or someone close friend? How do you feel that your problem affecting your study and because of that you got less success? and is there any social,economical,financial or relationship stress going on?"
Hope I have answered your query,
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
You need counselling and behavior therapy
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
You are suffering from your problem since long and that must be quite distressing, I can understand.
Anxiety, lack of confidence, social issues, emotional instability,fear of public speaking, ineffective communication and not being able to stand out in the crowd are symptoms suggestive of Social Anxiety Disorder(Social Phobia).
As you are pursuing MBA, you are good at study though your problems are many.This suggest you are not suffering from any severe condition.You were more advanced in career, if you do not have these problems.But still you are on the way.
You go to family or friends when you are in more discomfort, but "do you tell them in which situation you are and what are your problems?"
Your lack of confidence due to your anxiety problems.
Your problems can be treated with help of psychotherapy.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy(CBT) is quite helpful in such cases and if you are good motivated and your therapist is good at CBT, you can be cured of this problem without medicines.8 to 10 sessions of 45 minutes each likely required.
Another is short term psycho dynamic psychotherapy.
Preferably some close family member should be involve in psychotherapy who can positively motivate you to get result early.
In simple words in your case CBT will work like,"Experience makes the man perfect". Means you have to actively pursue the situation in which you feel anxiety and fight with your situation by relaxation techniques.
If your treating doctor and you can mutually discuss and decide that you can be helped with some anti anxiety medicines, they can be given initially for early comfort.This include clonazepam, lorazepam and propranolol.
If you want to go for medicines only, SSRI group of medicines are quite helpful.
The thing here is you never consulted professional.
Just consult Psychiatrist or Clinical Psychologist to move forward and get rid of your problem.
One another possibility is some personality disorder and for that too detail history from you and your family members required.
I would like to help you further and for that I want to know something form you,"Have you ever seek professional help? Have you discuss your problem with your parents or someone close friend? How do you feel that your problem affecting your study and because of that you got less success? and is there any social,economical,financial or relationship stress going on?"
Hope I have answered your query,
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
I have shared problems with my friends and family at times when I felt nervous, lack of confidence, difficulty in public speaking and so on. The discussion usually ended with an intent to work harder from then onwards. I have never sought professional help so far with the exception of one session with the school counsellor where she shared a few techniques to keep focused. There has been no particular financial or relationship stress.
On paper, I have a good profile. I did schooling from a reputed school in XXXXXXX graduation from Lady Shri XXXXXXX College and currently pursuing MBA from IIM-Indore. Having said that, time and again I have experienced variety of behavioral and emotional problems.
Classes- I feel hyperactive and aggressive when I am good at the subject
Exams- Anxious, difficulty in keeping calm, again hyperactive
Presentations- very nervous, shaking, fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, stammering, difficulty in explaining
Interviews- nervous, intimidated, emotional outburst, feeling lost
Group discussions- fumble, and others mentioned above
Socialising has been another problem, where I find it difficult to talk and connect to people sometimes. I realise its importance and feel quite okay interacting when in a good mood. However, the contradiction lies in the fact that I feel glooomy, out of place and disconnected so often that I dont like people asking too many questions and prefer my personal space. And this includes family, close friends and acquaintances.
My reaction to sound and touch is also extreme. I am alarmed if my door bell or phone rings. Any touch makes me squeal.
Looking at other people, seeing everything I want to be and I am not makes me feel extremely low. I just want to be in a place where I feel fine in my skin and work towards the best I can be, which has not happened in spite of repeated attempts.
I feel demotivated at slight criticism, emotional outbursts are often. My friends and family are supportive. Of lately, I have arguments with my father mainly due to conflict of opinion and his unwillingness to give up conservative views.
I want to understand how therapy might help in my case and if possible please give some references of therapists in XXXXXXX My family can not be involved as they are based in XXXXXXX I also want to know if my problem requires genuine attention or it is just an outcome of overthinking.
All these might seem trivial matters but at this stage of my life, they seem very important. As I mentioned before, all these problems have been persistent, the feelings havent changed since past 6-7 years and before this becomes a major problem I want to act on it.
I have behavioural troubles even in an informal group setting. On the contradictory, I have witnessed myself to feel very confident and cheerful when in a position of control or or relative importance.
A very small example of this is I feel extremely weird dancing on any occasion. Be it parties with friends or any event. But on the occasion of my sisters wedding, I was eagerly drawing everyone out and persuading them to dance with me.
Memorising things is becoming increasingly difficult. If I read an article, I find it difficult to recall what i read after 5 mins.
As a child, I was scared of the dark and would be escorted to my room at night. I slept with my parents till i was 12-13 years old. I am the youngest is my family and have been under constant guidance of my elder sisters. I have trouble sleeping also. I frequently experience nightmares and can recall them the next day. While sleeping, a slight touch, noise or light can alarm me and disturb my sleep completely at times.
I am tired of trying and failing. But there is still some fight left in me and I dont want to lose myself completely in this mad race. Just help me to find a way to control myself. There is still hope and I need to know how it can be done because I honestly dont know how to help myself anymore. Or even if I do, I am not able to get there on my own.
On paper, I have a good profile. I did schooling from a reputed school in XXXXXXX graduation from Lady Shri XXXXXXX College and currently pursuing MBA from IIM-Indore. Having said that, time and again I have experienced variety of behavioral and emotional problems.
Classes- I feel hyperactive and aggressive when I am good at the subject
Exams- Anxious, difficulty in keeping calm, again hyperactive
Presentations- very nervous, shaking, fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, stammering, difficulty in explaining
Interviews- nervous, intimidated, emotional outburst, feeling lost
Group discussions- fumble, and others mentioned above
Socialising has been another problem, where I find it difficult to talk and connect to people sometimes. I realise its importance and feel quite okay interacting when in a good mood. However, the contradiction lies in the fact that I feel glooomy, out of place and disconnected so often that I dont like people asking too many questions and prefer my personal space. And this includes family, close friends and acquaintances.
My reaction to sound and touch is also extreme. I am alarmed if my door bell or phone rings. Any touch makes me squeal.
Looking at other people, seeing everything I want to be and I am not makes me feel extremely low. I just want to be in a place where I feel fine in my skin and work towards the best I can be, which has not happened in spite of repeated attempts.
I feel demotivated at slight criticism, emotional outbursts are often. My friends and family are supportive. Of lately, I have arguments with my father mainly due to conflict of opinion and his unwillingness to give up conservative views.
I want to understand how therapy might help in my case and if possible please give some references of therapists in XXXXXXX My family can not be involved as they are based in XXXXXXX I also want to know if my problem requires genuine attention or it is just an outcome of overthinking.
All these might seem trivial matters but at this stage of my life, they seem very important. As I mentioned before, all these problems have been persistent, the feelings havent changed since past 6-7 years and before this becomes a major problem I want to act on it.
I have behavioural troubles even in an informal group setting. On the contradictory, I have witnessed myself to feel very confident and cheerful when in a position of control or or relative importance.
A very small example of this is I feel extremely weird dancing on any occasion. Be it parties with friends or any event. But on the occasion of my sisters wedding, I was eagerly drawing everyone out and persuading them to dance with me.
Memorising things is becoming increasingly difficult. If I read an article, I find it difficult to recall what i read after 5 mins.
As a child, I was scared of the dark and would be escorted to my room at night. I slept with my parents till i was 12-13 years old. I am the youngest is my family and have been under constant guidance of my elder sisters. I have trouble sleeping also. I frequently experience nightmares and can recall them the next day. While sleeping, a slight touch, noise or light can alarm me and disturb my sleep completely at times.
I am tired of trying and failing. But there is still some fight left in me and I dont want to lose myself completely in this mad race. Just help me to find a way to control myself. There is still hope and I need to know how it can be done because I honestly dont know how to help myself anymore. Or even if I do, I am not able to get there on my own.
Brief Answer:
you can be surely helped by a psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
You narrated your problem and history very well. Considering your education and the way you narrated your problem here, your intellectual capacity seems to be good.
Your personality has many traits which makes you comfortable. Main thing of that is your competitive nature, not able to tolerate your low/ poor performance or failure and some immature defenses mechanisms.
You feel very comfortable when you are good at subject or when you are in power and control of the situation. But when circumstances are opposite, your problems start and you can not make yourself stable in that situation means can't digest the situation or circumstance in which you are not good or have control.
At present you are in the place where intelligent people around you and that situation may cause worsening of your problem due to your nature.
From counseling point of view, First of all you need to understand and digest that everyone has different capacities and different limitations. No one can do everything. You need to find out your capacities and limitations first. Then you can proceed for how to show your self better, using your capacities and how to digest and accept limitations in positive manner.
Your performance anxiety can be removed with CBT and practicing the more and more during your counseling period and correcting your self during discussion with therapist.
Your lifestyle should be scheduled in terms of sleep, diet and exercise as much as possible at present to prevent any further problem.
Your problem is not so big or not so small. You are not over thinking but your problem is related to your thinking and behavior pattern. Your education is n the way that is advantage.
You can be helped by a psychiatrist who is good at psychotherapy and can give you sufficient time or a good clinical psychologist. I am sorry that I am not aware about anyone in XXXXXXX but if you need someone in XXXXXXX I can try.
After detail evaluation by psychiatrist you can be helped with some anti anxiety medicines which can improve your sleep and concentration.
I guess if you find someone, it will take 5-6 months after that to change your behavior and make it part of your life and you can live cheerful life.
I will be happy to answer, if any query there.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
you can be surely helped by a psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
You narrated your problem and history very well. Considering your education and the way you narrated your problem here, your intellectual capacity seems to be good.
Your personality has many traits which makes you comfortable. Main thing of that is your competitive nature, not able to tolerate your low/ poor performance or failure and some immature defenses mechanisms.
You feel very comfortable when you are good at subject or when you are in power and control of the situation. But when circumstances are opposite, your problems start and you can not make yourself stable in that situation means can't digest the situation or circumstance in which you are not good or have control.
At present you are in the place where intelligent people around you and that situation may cause worsening of your problem due to your nature.
From counseling point of view, First of all you need to understand and digest that everyone has different capacities and different limitations. No one can do everything. You need to find out your capacities and limitations first. Then you can proceed for how to show your self better, using your capacities and how to digest and accept limitations in positive manner.
Your performance anxiety can be removed with CBT and practicing the more and more during your counseling period and correcting your self during discussion with therapist.
Your lifestyle should be scheduled in terms of sleep, diet and exercise as much as possible at present to prevent any further problem.
Your problem is not so big or not so small. You are not over thinking but your problem is related to your thinking and behavior pattern. Your education is n the way that is advantage.
You can be helped by a psychiatrist who is good at psychotherapy and can give you sufficient time or a good clinical psychologist. I am sorry that I am not aware about anyone in XXXXXXX but if you need someone in XXXXXXX I can try.
After detail evaluation by psychiatrist you can be helped with some anti anxiety medicines which can improve your sleep and concentration.
I guess if you find someone, it will take 5-6 months after that to change your behavior and make it part of your life and you can live cheerful life.
I will be happy to answer, if any query there.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I have troubling dealing with things I am good at also.
It would be great if you could tell about someone in XXXXXXX I can try to work around it. Also, I would like to know how can I start working on my own since it is difficult to estimate when i might be able to visit a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for further consultation.
It would be great if you could tell about someone in XXXXXXX I can try to work around it. Also, I would like to know how can I start working on my own since it is difficult to estimate when i might be able to visit a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for further consultation.
Brief Answer:
See below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
In XXXXXXX there are many psychiatrist. I would like to mention two names. One is Dr XXXXXXX Parikh who runs his clinic with a team of psychologist probably with XXXXXXX hospital. And the other is Dr XXXXXXX Mittal who is very XXXXXXX and experienced psychiatrist. I met both and they are quite ethical and expert in their practice. You can search their address easily on internet.
For you I can suggest following.
1. Read one book "Feeling Good" by XXXXXXX Burn. Actually it is for treatment for depression but will help you for sure as it taught how to change your behaviour and thoughts.
2. Daily exercise: it can be walking,running or anything which you make you sweating for half an hour and at least 5 days a week.Yoga and meditation with deep breathing and relaxation techniques(learn form internet) can also help.
3. Diet and sleep: keep your scheduled for breakfast lunch and dinner as regular as possible. Avoid fast food as much as possible, take more fruits and milk. Sleep at least 6-7 hours a day. if you need to awake for some work, compensate those sleep hour in weekend.
4. Self evaluation: take pen and paper. Write your strengths and weaknesses.Try to maintain or improve your strengths and work more on weaknesses in which you think you can improve.
5. No Comparison: Make your own goal and targets in terms of study, profession and life and try to achieve them.Keep them on slight higher level than your capacity in area which you are strong.Accept limitation in target in area which you are weak.Do not think much and do not compare with others in area which you are weak. Every one has some limitation in this world.No one can bear all responsibility.(Just for example, Our PM is quite efficient and dedicated to work than other leaders as may be he has no family responsibility.)
6. learn from everyone: We are human being and student for lifetime. We can learn something from anyone. We can learn from a child, from a peon, from a XXXXXXX from a junior, from an old man. Age, education and look doesn't matters. So everyone can be our boss in any situation. So control over situation doesn't matter to improve yourself, one need attitude to learn rather than be superior.
In particular your case you should fight with the situation in which you feel dis comfortable.
Always make presentation/attempt/communicate when you feel you are weak in that, keep repeating, you will learn from every experience and mistake and ultimately become master over that.
Never think who is thinking/judging/watching you, just continue the way you like.
Accept criticism in positive manner and learn form it.
Try to write daily diary of yourself.In weekend read that and find out what happened before,how can it be improved in future, which mistakes to be correct, which behavior to be changed and implement those changes in future. In that way you will get and develop confidence gradually and make your self happy.
Many things to say but last one is somewhat spiritual: try to make happy/ help others, it will be a great pleasure and satisfaction for you.
Hope you will find something helpful from these measures.
All the best & regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
See below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
In XXXXXXX there are many psychiatrist. I would like to mention two names. One is Dr XXXXXXX Parikh who runs his clinic with a team of psychologist probably with XXXXXXX hospital. And the other is Dr XXXXXXX Mittal who is very XXXXXXX and experienced psychiatrist. I met both and they are quite ethical and expert in their practice. You can search their address easily on internet.
For you I can suggest following.
1. Read one book "Feeling Good" by XXXXXXX Burn. Actually it is for treatment for depression but will help you for sure as it taught how to change your behaviour and thoughts.
2. Daily exercise: it can be walking,running or anything which you make you sweating for half an hour and at least 5 days a week.Yoga and meditation with deep breathing and relaxation techniques(learn form internet) can also help.
3. Diet and sleep: keep your scheduled for breakfast lunch and dinner as regular as possible. Avoid fast food as much as possible, take more fruits and milk. Sleep at least 6-7 hours a day. if you need to awake for some work, compensate those sleep hour in weekend.
4. Self evaluation: take pen and paper. Write your strengths and weaknesses.Try to maintain or improve your strengths and work more on weaknesses in which you think you can improve.
5. No Comparison: Make your own goal and targets in terms of study, profession and life and try to achieve them.Keep them on slight higher level than your capacity in area which you are strong.Accept limitation in target in area which you are weak.Do not think much and do not compare with others in area which you are weak. Every one has some limitation in this world.No one can bear all responsibility.(Just for example, Our PM is quite efficient and dedicated to work than other leaders as may be he has no family responsibility.)
6. learn from everyone: We are human being and student for lifetime. We can learn something from anyone. We can learn from a child, from a peon, from a XXXXXXX from a junior, from an old man. Age, education and look doesn't matters. So everyone can be our boss in any situation. So control over situation doesn't matter to improve yourself, one need attitude to learn rather than be superior.
In particular your case you should fight with the situation in which you feel dis comfortable.
Always make presentation/attempt/communicate when you feel you are weak in that, keep repeating, you will learn from every experience and mistake and ultimately become master over that.
Never think who is thinking/judging/watching you, just continue the way you like.
Accept criticism in positive manner and learn form it.
Try to write daily diary of yourself.In weekend read that and find out what happened before,how can it be improved in future, which mistakes to be correct, which behavior to be changed and implement those changes in future. In that way you will get and develop confidence gradually and make your self happy.
Many things to say but last one is somewhat spiritual: try to make happy/ help others, it will be a great pleasure and satisfaction for you.
Hope you will find something helpful from these measures.
All the best & regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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