I’m an 18 year old senior in high school. I’m current on 150 mg of Zoloft a day. I’ve been recieving therapy for several months, but I really haven’t improved at all. I have problems with anxiety and depression.

The Zoloft has really helped with depression, but my anxiety is still very bad (if not worse then before the medicine). I’ve had a few panic attacks since starting the medicine (one very serious one in the middle of class). I also twitch quite a bit, it could just be that I’m so cold though…

My therapist would not diagnosis me with anything because I think she said she was more of a humanist or something. However she said that in order to treat my anxiety we would probably have to get the depression under control and it is pretty much now.

So I was wondering how effective talk therapy was for helping with anxiety? I’ve always thought I had social anxiety disorder, but my therapist is reluctant to diagnosis anything.
Also what other forms of therapy may be more effective?

Description of my anxiety
Well like most highschool guys I get most anxious around girls, but for me it isn’t uncommon for me to have anxiety or panic attacks.
I usually try to flee from conversations because I never have anything to say and I’m worried for some reason. So it will usually come with faster breathing & heart beat… possibly some twitching.

When just being in public I’m told that I look very uncomfotable and even at time that I look like I’m going to pass out.

Just sitting in class I will have problems twitching (mainly hands shaking and mouth doing something similar to shivering).
yes my depression has pretty much subsidded (and only in about a months period with the first medication, everyone was telling me change it and not even to give the zoloft a chance).

I really don’t feel a need to be diagoisnised with a specific disorder, I just feel my anxiety symptoms best first social anxiety disorder for best reference as to what my problems are like and what therapy would be useful in treating it.

I’ve heard a lot about CBT for treating anxiety and I think my therapist may use some.
I don’t see where you got the impression that the therapist does not listen to me. Just because she won’t diagonis me with some medical term doesn’t really mean anything to me. It won’t change how I’m feeling or the symptoms I’m experiencing and it would not change her method.

Isn’t it better to form the therapy to the individual patient instead of just switching because of something like that?

Recently, I’ve done a lot of reading up on Social Anxiety Disorder and I am fairly certain I suffer from it. I started noticing it about a year ago and it has gotten significantly worse since then, to the point when it has begun to interfere with my everyday life and my ambitious lifestyle. My anxiety occurs mostly in meetings with my fraternity brothers, giving a presentation or answering a question in front of my class, introducing myself to large parties (being put on the spot), or talking to someone I find "important" or intimidating. Strangely enough, getting or giving phone calls to/from people I don’t know well also results in an onset of an anxiety attack.

In these situations, my mind wanders, my heart beats very fast, I sweat a lot, and worst of all (and most noticeably) my facial muscles tense up so that my smile often becomes a twisted half-smile/half-frown. Unfortunately, it has gotten to the point where I try to avoid social situations like those stated above in order to relieve myself of my anxiety attacks. I have tried reasoning with myself but I am getting sick and tired of not being able to grab this debilitating condition by the horns and take my life back . My next semester at college is a HUGE year – I will be the President of my fraternity, I have a good role in a school musical, and I will be beginning my training to become a Physician’s Assistant where I don’t want to be nervously treating patients or appearing anxious in front of peers and professionals.

Can anyone please offer me advice/tips/help?? I am really at wit’s end and will take most suggestions.

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Will shark cartilage provide relief from social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, depression?

Can social anxiety disorder be treated? I’ve just been diagnosed with having this disorder, but have not really been given a solution to take me forward from the diagnosis. Has anyone successfully beaten the anxiety attacks? I’m a 38 year old male if that’s any help.

For several years now, I have been battling severe panic attacks related to social anxiety disorder/agoraphobia. It isn’t just "shyness", it’s a full-blown panic attack – sweating, chills, rapid pulse, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, hyperventilating, and the overwhelming need to get out of the situation immediately.

I am on daily Zoloft to curb the anxiety, and Xanax as-needed for panic attacks. The Zoloft works alright, the Xanax works better, but neither is 100% and I have several very stressful weeks coming up and I need some kind of remedy or trick, preferably something all-natural, to help me cope with the panic attacks.

All ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated. =)

I have social anxiety disorder but I don’t take any medication. Since I started school again it’s gotten worse. I also have panic attacks. I don’t want to take any drugs. Can you give me some tips on how to control it?

I was looking through the web and it looks like some of the options are Conquering Stress, Panic Portal and the Linden Review. I was wondering if anyone could recommend any of these or other ones, and tell me about them. I have panic attacks and social anxiety disorder. I am overcoming the social anxiety disorder but the panic attacks seem to be increasing and becoming more severe. I have tried traditional therapy, which helped a little. I do not want to take prescription medications. I have tried a few and they just made me worse. In addition, if anyone has any tips on self-help for the onset/managment during a panic attack. Thanks!

Where do you go to get help for social anxiety disorder? Do you go to the doctor or go to a psychologist or something like that?

How much does it cost or is it covered by insurance ( the visit + medication) I’m 17 and i doubt my mom would want to pay for it.

I have medi-cal at no cost. And I NEED help with this social anxiety disorder ive looked up the symptoms online and it seems as if that is what i am suffering from. So my question is do I go to my regular doctor and he will send me to a psychiatrist? Im so lost, please help!

I have social anxiety disorder; I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I have tried medication and therapy, but I don’t like how the medication makes me feel and I would like to find an alternative to therapy. How do you combat negative thoughts and face your fears in social situations? One negative thought in particular I am having difficulty with is the constant fear that my boyfriend is cheating on me. How do I get rid of this?

I’ve had social anxiety disorder for three years now and it gets worse everyday. I stopped going to school because the panic attacks and i couldan’t handle being in large crowds.
I’ve lost all my friends since i’ve got it, and i’ve become depressed because i’m so lonely.