| Social anxiety disorder is a condition which can be | | | | family tends to trivialize the disorder or demand |
| either temporary or permanent, or somewhere in | | | | improvement without treatment, the affected |
| between. It is a condition whereby the sufferer | | | | person will suffer. You may wish to enlist their help |
| often feels extremely afraid in social situations, so | | | | as educated allies in your fight against your anxiety |
| that they can hardly even function. The only way to | | | | disorder. |
| make sure you do or do not have social anxiety | | | | Stress management techniques and meditation may |
| disorder is to see a doctor for a thorough | | | | help you to calm yourself and enhance the effects |
| examination. The best help for anxiety disorders is | | | | of therapy, although there is as yet no scientific |
| often self-help, though many people with anxiety | | | | evidence to support the value of these "wellness" |
| disorders benefit from joining a self-help group and | | | | approaches to recovery from anxiety disorders. |
| sharing their problems and achievements with others. | | | | There is preliminary evidence that aerobic exercise |
| Talking with trusted friends can also be helpful, | | | | may be of value, and it is known that caffeine, illicit |
| though not a substitute for medical care. | | | | drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold |
| The family is of great importance and help in the | | | | medications can aggravate the symptoms of an |
| recovery of a person with an anxiety disorder. | | | | anxiety disorder. Check with your physician or |
| Ideally, the family should be supportive, without | | | | pharmacist before taking any additional medicines. |
| helping to perpetuate the person's symptoms. If the | | | | |