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Simple answer: Lexapro. Therapy too, but that helped more on a higher level. It's the gold standard SSRI for social anxiety for a reason. I've suffered from social anxiety since I was 15 or so, and a tiny pill made it disappear within a month. All of my physical symptoms (shaking, inability to speak, panic attacks, etc) disappeared pretty much immediately. Over the following months, the psychological side of it started to fade too. Conversations became significantly easier, I started speaking more, making jokes, sharing opinions. I haven't had a chance to do any public speaking but I honestly think I could do it, even in front of a huge crowd, with basically no issues at this point. A year ago I.. I don't know what would have happened if I tried. I'd probably have fainted! I also lost my severe fear of spiders, which I wasn't expecting, and a variety of other anxieties I wasn't aware I had. Apparently I struggled a bit with crowds and crossing the road. I hadn't been aware of that until suddenly both felt significantly easier. However, it isn't perfect, and depending on how long you've had issues with social anxiety, there is likely to be work to do. What was left for me was a decade of coping strategies and beliefs that no longer applied or were necessary, and were actively harming me (keeping me isolated, basically) – and that's what the therapy has been helping with. That will take a bit longer, but they're being chipped away at slowly. There are also side effects. I get some of them. They're not ideal, but they're worth the trade-off for me. I read a comment similar to this about a year ago and that's why I sought a diagnosis and a prescription. It might not work for you but if you're struggling and you haven't tried it yet, go speak to your doctor or book an appointment for an initial assessment with a psychiatrist. There's really nothing to lose and I wish I'd started on this when I was 20, not when I was 30. I can't imagine where my life, career, relationships, etc, would be if I had... |