SOCIAL ANXIETY TREATMENT IN DALLAS, TEXAS
Meeting new people, speaking in front of others, or going into busy crowds can cause a moment of stress for many people. For those with social anxiety disorder, the emotional and physical responses to these situations are more than stress and worry.
Social anxiety is a specific form of anxiety triggered by social situations, with symptoms that vary from person to person but typically have worry about interacting with or being judged by those around you. The anxiety is often chronic and extreme enough that it impacts other facets of your life such as your work or friendships.
Dr. Sehdev at Aware Behavioral Health is a Dallas psychiatrist providing social anxiety treatment. After working with you to discover how this anxiety is affecting your mental health, he is trained in using medication, talk therapy, and other methods to reduce those impacts and help you engage in fulfilling social interactions going forward.
Fill out the online form or call us at 469-487-7744 to set up an appointment and learn more about how a Dallas psychiatrist can help you with social anxiety.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SOCIAL ANXIETY?
Social anxiety is far more than shyness. Being shy may make socialization uncomfortable while social anxiety results in both physical and psychological symptoms when you engage with people in certain situations. When you have a range of these symptoms for more than 6 months, we may diagnose you with social anxiety.
The thoughts and feelings you may experience with a social phobia can include:
- Extreme worry when entering a social setting.
- Stress over upcoming social situations.
- Believe people are watching and judging you.
- Fear you will embarrass yourself.
These emotions often cause your body to respond with a “fight or flight” response that shows up in physical symptoms like:
- Excessive Sweating
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Shortness of Breath
- Nausea
- Trouble Speaking
As a result of unpleasant emotional and physical symptoms, you may start avoiding going out in public, forming friendships, speaking on the phone, or speaking at work or school based on where you feel the anxiety.
Many people experience some form of anxiety in specific situations, but are fine in others. If you experience social anxiety in all social situations, or the anxiety you experience in those specific situations is severe, this is typically a sign that it needs to be treated.
OUR TREATMENT PROCESS FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY IN DALLAS, TX
Dr. Sehdev first takes time to get to know you and learn about your social anxiety. This enables him to tailor a treatment plan that is as distinct as your challenges and has the best chance of being effective. In psychiatry, the basis of many treatments for social anxiety is medication.
Medications help regulate the chemicals in your brain that cause the reactions you experience with social anxiety, reducing either the physical or emotional symptoms. Some provide a more instantaneous but short term solution, and others are a longer lasting tool to manage symptoms. The various medications we can prescribe include:
- Anti-Anxiety Medications – These are fast acting medications that immediately provide relief from the thoughts and feelings of anxiety. Because of their side effects, they are generally best as a short term solution.
- Beta-Blockers – These address the physical symptoms you experience with social anxiety. We use them most often when your social anxiety is tied to performance, such as giving a speech.
- Antidepressants – Consisting of several different medicines often used to treat depression, many antidepressants are also effective against anxiety.
We determine which options are the best match for your symptoms, taking into account other mental health conditions and your history during the process of creating a treatment plan. Then we continue working with you over the upcoming months to be sure that the medications are working as intended.
Based on your circumstances, we may also use psychotherapy and skill development to help you handle the symptoms of social phobia. Talk therapy can use CBT and other modalities to give you an understanding of your psychological response to social situations and why you react the way you do. In many cases, we can help you control your symptoms or build coping strategies to get you through your anxieties.
WHY CHOOSE AWARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY TREATMENT IN DALLAS
As a psychiatrist, Dr. Sehdev knows your social anxiety is more than just shyness or introversion. We also believe that it does not have to hold you back from relationships, the job you want, or new experiences.
Aware Behavioral Health is based in Dallas and provides social anxiety treatment to clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Currently our appointments with a psychiatrist are virtual to provide you an easy way to meet with Dr. Sehdev from the convenience and familiarity of your own home.
Let us help you gain more control and confidence in social interactions. Request an appointment at Aware Behavioral Health today when you call 469-487-7744 or through the online form.