3 Ways to Treat Social Phobia

1. Undergo Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most successful treatments for social phobia and is based upon the presumption that fear of interaction, relationships or social settings is driven by negative thoughts and misinterpretations of reality. In this type of treatment, you'll work with a counselor or health professional to identify the adverse thoughts and emotions triggering your social fears. After helping you address your negativity and analyze your irrational thought patterns, your CBT specialist will help you shift false perceptions to make room for more realistic thoughts. You'll also learn to replace statements like, "I am a boring person with nothing interesting to share," with more pragmatic declarations such as, "I've had an interesting life, and I'll just call on my experiences if I run out of things to say."

Often, health professionals supplement CBT with exposure therapy, which is designed to force patients to confront negative thought patterns and practice their social techniques in safe, controlled settings. Hoping to induce a degree of anxiety by simulating uncomfortable situations, therapists try to desensitize patients and teach them to employ the coping skills necessary to overcome intense, disabling nervous reactions.

2. Supplement Therapy With Medication

There are several drug types used to treat social phobia, all of which are usually most effective when used in combination with psychotherapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has specifically approved three antidepressants to treat full-blown social anxiety disorder, including sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR) and venlafaxine (Effexor). Used to alleviate the depression and nervousness associated with a fear of interaction or public speaking, these drugs are not typically addictive and may help patients achieve more success in therapy. They can, however, take 4 to 6 weeks to begin working, so you should not use them as an acute treatment for social anxiety attacks.

If you find that antidepressants are not effective, your doctor may prescribe a beta blocker such as propranolol (Inderal). Created to prevent hypertension, propranolol can be taken in low doses to reduce trembling, blushing and other physical effects that come with social anxiety. Blocking the body's adrenaline receptors, these medications also ease heart palpitations and excessive perspiration.

Some people who struggle with social phobia also benefit from benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax), which are mild tranquilizers that reduce anxiety, insomnia and muscle tension caused by a fear of interaction. Be careful, though, because while these anti-anxiety drugs work to slow the central nervous system, they can also cause drowsiness, dizziness and addiction.

It's important to remember that medication can help you get past some of the disabling symptoms of social phobia, but it should not be relied on as a long-term solution. Permanently changing behavior and thought patterns takes counseling, practice and patience.

3. Join a Social Anxiety Support Group

While many support groups are directed toward people with generalized anxiety disorders, it's important to find a group tailored to those with social phobia. Using exercises such as role-playing, question-and-answer sessions, mock job interviews and ad-lib presentations, social anxiety specialists guide group members in facing the situations they fear most. The goal of this type of group therapy is to help patients confront social fears in a safe, controlled environment in order to practice the skills needed to interact and speak successfully. Your social anxiety therapist may also assign homework, requiring you to try out your rehearsed skills in a real social situation and reflect on the experience at the next meeting. If you struggle with the isolation that comes with social phobia, group therapy can also help create a sense of shared support and connection in the midst of your relational frustration.