Cure for Social Anxiety?

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Hi,
I find xanax helpfull, but not always.....

I myself suffered severely from social anxiety, which I still have today in a much milder form, so it is possible to have success in this area. I totally don't believe in using drugs as therapy for social anxiety. They have quite nasty side effects. Rather, I found that (1) alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine helped me with social anxiety. All three of these have side effects, but since they have been around for hundreds of years, the side effects are well-known.
I found that alcohol was worthwhile as a social lubricant. Of course, it can make you really stupid, but if you are drinking socially, the people around you are also drinking, so they may not notice.
I also found these things helpful in lessening social anxiety- (2) self-help psychology books, (3) support groups (4) cognitive therapy of the self-help variety where you have a book with a series of assignments that you work on, and a journal that you write in, (5) Observing people who I noticed did not have social anxiety, and trying to imitate some of their actions.
What did not help- (1) Conventional psychotherapy, (2) Drugs, (3) Discussing problems with other people- I find that few people know how to give advice well.
Keep in mind that this is my own opinion and my own experience.

i have to disagree on the alcohol option. my history is that i went too far with that and developed problems of overdependance. but that doesnt mean you will, i just mention it as it is a drug that can affect your judgment, ability to keep yourself safe, and ability to operate a car, AND can be addictive both emotionally and physically.

i also get frustrated when people say dont let it bother you. now really people.

after suffering for a long time (im 38, new as diagnosis this year) i just started on lexapro , trial prescription from psychiatrist, very small dose, and dont know yet how its going to work, takes up to 4-5 weeks and im in week 2. it is a class of anxiety / depression drugs called SSRI's. SSRI's are not addictive but require a gradual blood level buildup so you cant take them as needed like some pills, but must be taken regularly/daily.

I just read a book by tim page, he recommends valium ! (although this is a class of drug that does have addictive qualities so im not interested in that)

id highly suggest talking with a psychiatrist, preferably one familiar with AS if possible, if not they will likely be familiar with social anxiety its fairly common

Thanks for posting this thread. I had/have social anxiety, and was morbidly afraid of people. Interaction with strangers use to give me panic attacks. I took Paxil, but that lowered my metabolism and made me gain 70lbs in two years. No joke. I got off the drug and lost nearly all of that weight within a year. Now I am on Effexor XR, and it's worked wonders.

Still, I imagine my anxiety exists in some form. For instance, I never had a sexual encounter. I want to, but I'm starting to realize I'd have a panic attack if I did. However, recognition is the first form of therapy for things like this.

Social anxiety never goes away, but it can be treated. Practicing social interactions is the best method by far, though it is extremely hard to do at first. Therapy and medication can help get you started. If you suspect you have social anxiety, I strongly encourage you to have a loved one contact a professional. It helps immensely.

Pushing myself to talk more works better than any drug. Also alot of those drugs make my **** limp. Not good. Also cod liver oil seems to help. I learned how to talk to people through watching people, no drug can teach you experiences.

Lets just say it this way. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. The most I get out of "detaching" myself, is that I get to the point of not caring that I go FAR beyond the terms blunt, sarcastic, a**hole, douchebag, and so on and so forth. detachment as gotten me in far more trouble than not.

I understand where this is coming from. Enough to break a couple months worth of lurking, anyhow

Asperger's (and general autism, for that matter) doesn't necessarily cause social anxiety, but it's like a cocktail of happenstance just waiting to blow. We're socially awkward, have trouble communicating our true feelings, don't understand body language, and have quirky vocabularies. So when we grow up around other kids, they make fun of us for it and we're left not understanding why. Every Aspie I've ever met in real life tells the same story. It's like, it's not truly a part of Asperger's Syndrome, but an inevitability due to social biggotry.

I suffer badly from this as well, and I dislike the thought that I have to turn into a spiteful person just to stop freezing in public. I've been working on my own solution-

I imagine the person I want to be. He's courageous. He always knows what to say. He's diligent, he's funny, he never gets discouraged. I keep this me in the back of my mind. When I feel fear and hopelessness start to creep up on me, I imagine the me I want to be, rooting me on. I can't let him down. I'm counting on... well, me.

The fear subsides. I move forward a little more.

I have this pretty bad. I can function very well if I have to, but it takes a lot out of me. Because of the demands of my work life, I have to spend almost all the rest of my time recuperating at home, so that I don't really have a social life and don't even want to have to go to the grocery store. I'm okay with being a homebody, but my family doesn't understand it so I feel guilty.

As to meds, there is another class of meds that nobody has yet mentioned: the tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil. They can have a calming, sedating effect. I've heard Temple Grandin has been on one most of her life.

update: alcohol and certain other things totally wipe out my social anxiety. the other thing being the vicodin I have been taking for my surgery.