If you think you may have an anxiety disorder -- characterized by an intense fear of a person, place or situation -- you should visit your doctor to have your condition evaluated and confirmed.
Once an anxiety disorder has been confirmed, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health suggests how to manage:
- Join a support or self-help group.
- Take anti-anxiety medication that your doctor prescribes. Do not stop the medication before you speak with your doctor.
- Share your feelings and experiences with a mental health professional or clergy member.
- Practice meditation or another form of stress management.
- Get regular aerobic exercise.
- Avoid caffeine, illegal drugs and over-the-counter cold medications.
- Seek support of family members and close friends.
Health Tip: Dealing With Social Phobia
Social phobia is an irrational fear of social situations, including being judged or scrutinized by others.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests these potential remedies for coping with social phobia:
- Receiving cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify the causes of such fears and learning ways to control them.
- Slowly beginning to attend parties and other social gatherings.
- Practicing social skills in a group therapy setting.
- Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and eating meals on a regular schedule.
- Limiting or avoiding caffeine, over-the-counter cold medications and other stimulant medications.
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