Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) goes beyond feeling shy. Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, involves being judged negatively or getting humiliated publicly. Patients suffering from this mental disorder avoid meeting new people, public gatherings and participating in formal interactions.
Certain severe cases also include not being able to eat in front of everyone, taking phone calls and even asking for help in a public setting like a restaurant or a hospital.
Explaining Anxiety: What It Is and How to Manage It
Steps Followed In Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Social anxiety disorder treatment centres follow a diagnostic approach. Jagruti Rehab Centre is one of the best social anxiety disorder treatment centres. Professionals here understand that every patient is different but following steps are followed in every scenario for a thorough understanding of a patient’s mental health.
1. Diagnosis: Diagnosing the level of social anxiety disorder is the first step of social anxiety disorder treatment. Therapists conduct interviews to understand the patient’s psyche. Questions regarding a patient’s circumstances, what bothers them the most and what shakes their confidence in a public place can be asked. Mental health experts can even ask patients to fill out questionnaires in case they need a more comprehensive view of the scenario.
2. Making Treatment Plans: Once the problem has been diagnosed by a mental health expert, he or she decides upon the best psychotherapy. Therapists then recommend if the patient needs 24/7 attention and the kind of complementary treatments that complement therapies.
Rehabilitation Programs at Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre
Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre has the most accommodative approach to psychological issues. The centre offers treatment to sick working individuals unable to commit to inpatient care and to those willing to get admitted. Here are a few treatment options available for mentally ill patients:
1. Tele therapy: For those who need online counselling, teletherapy is the best option for them. A session can be attended from any place possible and is ideal for people who feel uncomfortable opening up to strangers. It is ideal for patients suffering from severe social anxiety as they are in their room and do not have to deal with the pressure of judgement in a foreign space.
2. Support groups: Support group sessions at Jagruti rehab centre provide emotional support to a patient. The point is to meet new people and socialise in a controlled environment for a long-term cure. Shared experiences and emotional support help patients in fighting isolation and loneliness.
3. In-Patient Treatment Plans: Patients who need 24/7 attention from professional nursing staff and mental health experts can opt for an in-patient treatment program. Patients will have access to private counselling spaces and recreational areas where they can interact with other people. A healthy diet and hygienic accommodation is also provided to patients.
4. Out-Patient Programs: Not every patient is a victim of severe social anxiety disorder. Those who are suffering from mild SAD can afford to attend sessions intermittently or as specified by the therapist or the counsellor. He or she can either go to the clinic or opt for an online session. Many working people and school-going kids sign up for outpatient programs so that they can maintain their mental health while going on with their lives.
What is the Best Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder?
The most effective treatment for social anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy.
1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a psychotherapy that aims to alter negative thought patterns in an individual’s mind. The aim is to control the emotional responses of a person to a certain situation and improve one’s behaviour.
Therapists at social anxiety disorder treatment centres select Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a course of treatment because:
- CBT targets the roots of the problem. During the diagnosis process, interviews conducted by mental health experts go back in time. A patient’s childhood, work, marriage and other aspects of life are explored to understand the cause of the problem.
- CBT trains a patient to create a more positive outlook. Generally, a person suffering from SAD creates the worst scenario in his or her mind regarding a social situation. However, by using the right technique, cognitive behavioural therapy can help a person to feel more confident and smart.
- Gradual exposure to the problem is another effective step in the process. Therapists place the patient in an uncomfortable situation in a controlled environment to mentally prepare him. He or she will be asked questions, made to eat, and even made to perform activities while he is under observation so that he acts normally when he goes out.
- Building coping strategies is part of the treatment that prevents relapse. Exercises including mental rehearsals by visualising scenarios to engage all senses are performed. For instance, if a patient gets nervous in a real-life situation and is not able to behave properly in a public gathering, these coping strategies effectively control an anxiety attack.
CBT Techniques in Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment:
- Cognitive Restructuring: Cognitive Restructuring is about actively recognising negative thought patterns. A therapist helps an individual to replace these negative thoughts with positive beliefs. Distorted thoughts are the main cause of problems for a patient suffering from SAD. Therefore, by substituting these warped ideas with constructive ones, a patient develops a balanced perspective and conducts himself or herself better in a social setting.
- Behaviour Experiments: A more practical approach adopted by many mental health experts, behaviour experiments enable a patient to face his fears in front of a small group of people. For instance, many people suffer from stage fright and public speaking. Participation in this experiment would involve delivering a speech in front of a small group of people to regain confidence and feel comfortable.
- Imaginal Exposure: In situations where recreating real-life experiences is not possible, therapists make a patient imagine a hypothetical situation that would provoke anxiety. A detailed narrative of a dreaded situation is created which would trigger anxiety. Patients are encouraged to feel every uncomfortable emotion, acknowledge every negative thought and visualise it unfiltered. The process goes on repeating till the anxiety levels do not reduce.
- Behavioural Activation: Consciously indulging in positive activities to induce optimistic thoughts in one’s mind leads to behavioural activation. A patient is made to perform meaningful activities aimed at either giving him or her joy or some meaning out of it. However, it has to be planned and goal-oriented so that the patient always has something to look forward to.
2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
This therapy has a more value-based approach which encourages a patient to step away from thoughts and feelings. In this therapy, a patient sets meaningful goals and is trained to be more present in the moment. Here is how it works:
- A therapist will ask a patient to accept his or her flaws. The assigned mental health expert will ask the patient to mention every symptom he or she experiences during an SAD episode.
- Then the patient will make a list of priorities which will include everything important like family, career, education, children and so on.
- Once the treatment starts, the patient will actively start working on his or her fears and confront them by being attentive and conscious.
- Gradually, a patient will try to overcome his fears, not avoid awkward situations and be more mentally flexible. The intensity of the episodes will reduce and the symptoms will not be as severe.
3. Medication for
There is no single medication available for curing social anxiety disorder. However, therapists often prescribe any-depressant and anti-psychotic drugs to manage the symptoms.
Beta-blockers are also prescribed by psychiatrists to cure symptoms like trembling, shaking and a rapid heartbeat. Certain people freeze in a social gathering for which muscle relaxants are prescribed in the early stages of the disorder.
Nevertheless, medication is only prescribed in cases when therapy seems insufficient. Certain medicines can cause dependence, thus, it is strongly advised to consult a professional before consuming any drug.
4. Complementary Course of Treatment
Even the most effective treatment for social anxiety disorder needs to be accompanied by certain lifestyle changes. Here are 4 lifestyle-related changes an individual must make.
- Improving Diet: A patient must consume a healthy and balanced diet. He or she must avoid processed food that is loaded with artificial flavours and preservatives. This having antidepressants must avoid alcohol and other substances like party drugs.
- Practice Mindfulness: To be more mindful and more aware, practice meditation. Being mindful gives the patient an edge and does not let him get easily frazzled when he or she is in a tight spot like being among a lot of people.
- Exercise: Regular exercise is a must for the regulation of hormones and cortisol levels. Brisk walks keep blood pressure in control and act as an effective mood regulator. A patient will be able to maintain good gut health and feel better about one’s body.
Effectiveness of The Treatment at Jagruti Rehab Centre
The most effective treatment for social anxiety disorder at Jagruti Rehab Centre will never conclude with a counselling session. Therapists make sure that follow-up appointments are booked by mental health experts to ensure that the patient is not experiencing a relapse.
Patients are asked if they feel uncomfortable under any particular circumstances to ensure that the healing is complete and wholesome. The answer to what is the best treatment for social anxiety disorder would be a perfect balance of therapy, medication if needed and changes in the lifestyle of a patient that keep him or her healthy, active and fit.
Conclusion
There are exhaustive treatment options for social anxiety disorder at Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre. However, mental health experts do not follow a cutout approach for everyone. A patient’s condition and circumstances are considered before framing a treatment which ensures long-term recovery. Therapies with the best technological tools and extensive counselling sessions make up for a complete treatment.
Visit Jagruti Rehab Centre for the best social anxiety disorder treatment to take care of your mental health.