SSRI and the Treatment of
Social Anxiety Disorder

L-Tryptophan Complete
Overcome by the stress of home or business? L-Tryptophan Complete by Lidtke Technologies Corp. is a medical food for dietary management of sleeplessness, anxiety and eating disorders.

L-Tryptophan Complete includes the necessary cofactors and coenzymes to ensure that you receive the full benefit of L-Tryptophan. No other L-Tryptophan formula is so complete or well-researched. Take L-Tryptophan Complete to help you feel better, sleep better tonight.

60 capsules

Price: $35.99



 

If you’re interested in researching the subject of social anxiety and SSRI medications used to treat it then you will have a lot better luck than sufferers just a couple of decades ago. The Internet provides information from world renown physicians, at your fingertips. In fact, by visiting one of the big search engines and typing in the phrase “treatment, social anxiety”, you'll be greeted by more than 470,000 references. For those of you who don’t want to browse the rest of those hundreds of thousands of site, here’s an overview to help you understand this topic.

 

Generally speaking, there is a sense of agreement in defining or characterizing social anxiety disorder. It is a fairly common psychiatric illness that imposes persistent impairment and disabilities on the afflicted. Social performance situations are extremely challenging, and often avoided. Onset often commences for many between the ages of 14 and 16 years, and, left untreated, can ultimately interfere with occupational and/or social functioning, leading to significant disability.

 

One of the real challenges when it comes to going to the web as we've described has to do with the sources generating the material. Try to weigh your sources; your own trusted physician can be a great source to ask about the things your read online. So take information you find in articles like this one, make a list of questions, and talk to a reputable authority.

 

Not One Size Fits All

 

In your search under “treatment, social anxiety” there would be a large number of references to various drugs addressing the condition, and many of those would discuss SSRIs, or, in long-hand, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Social anxiety and SSRIs are indelibly linked, and have been for a number of years, as the medical and pharmacology worlds have developed treatment for the disorder. Some of the drug companies would have you to believe their particular product is custom made for treating social anxiety, and some will even go so far as to indicate their SSRI drug treatment is all you need to overcome the problem. Fortunately, you'd also come across many websites, articles and studies suggesting this is not the case.

 

SSRIs get right down to the most minute elements of social anxiety – to the thought processes of fear in/about social interactions. By allowing the neurotransmitters called serotonin to dwell in the synaptic gap between nerve cells a little longer than usual, more consistent thought patterns can develop. This can alleviate unreasonable fears.

 

And yet, as specific as SSRIs are able to function, most of the psychiatric world agrees that a particular drug is most likely not going to be the sole form of treatment. Indeed, there is widespread agreement that SSRIs should be utilized as part of a treatment program that includes some form of Cognitive Behavior Treatment. This means a healthcare professional will counsel you on how to change your behaviors by evaluating your results and actions.

 

A number of sources also suggest that monotherapy (the treatment of a disorder with a single drug) is not nearly as effective as polypharmacy (treatment using more than one drug). Furthermore, most patients who suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder also suffer from comorbid conditions such as depression, panic disorder, general anxiety, or obsessive compulsive disorder.

 

Multiple Anxieties May Benefit Most

 

What does this mean for you? Can SSRIs help to eliminate the symptoms of social anxiety? Well, yes, but with the guidance of a mental health professional who knows you and your situation well. However, the strongest link between SSRIs and social anxiety disorders may be for a very specific group. Studies and research indicate SSRIs work best for patients that are challenged by more than one anxiety-type disorder.

 

So, if you decide to weed through the morass of information on treatment for a medical condition, make sure to be aware of the source behind the material. Also, commit to working closely with your doctor, and be open to trying many different treatment options in pursuit of the best course of action for your particular situation. Social anxiety and SSRI medications can only work as well as you and your doctor.

Black Cohosh


These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.