![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Doug on January 8, 2000, at 21:05:18
I have tried Luvox, Paxil, Celexa, and Serzone for relief of Social Phobia with no success (quit most because of sexual side effects before efficacy could be determined). Now my pdoc is suggesting cognitive behavioral therapy. The only medication I use now is Xanax for anticipated social phobia situations. My question is : Has anyone honestly had a "cure" of social phobia with cognitive behavioral therapy ? My gut feeling is no. How could a situation that is caused by a chemical imbalance be improved through non chemical treatment ?
Posted by Canadian Michele on January 8, 2000, at 22:48:43
In reply to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Social Phobia, posted by Doug on January 8, 2000, at 21:05:18
> I have tried Luvox, Paxil, Celexa, and Serzone for relief of Social Phobia with no success (quit most because of sexual side effects before efficacy could be determined). Now my pdoc is suggesting cognitive behavioral therapy. The only medication I use now is Xanax for anticipated social phobia situations. My question is : Has anyone honestly had a "cure" of social phobia with cognitive behavioral therapy ? My gut feeling is no. How could a situation that is caused by a chemical imbalance be improved through non chemical treatment ?
I have social phobia and have lately been exploring the CBT arena. I have two books on hand; The Anxiety Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne and Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy, by David D. Burns. It seems to me that there are, in a very general sense, two schools of thought on the causal factors of depression/phobias/disorders etc. One the chemical imbalance theory and the other, a combo of family history, erroneous beliefs about oneself and negative internal dialogue. I am wondering if perhaps the negative self talk promotes the brain chemical disturbance or is it the other way around???? In any event if a treatment or therapy idea works, great - I will leave the debate to others.
The stats I have come up with on efficacy of CBT with or without drug augmentation are only so so. Another big drawback is finding and being able to afford a qualified therapist. There are none in my area. I am doing some of the exercises out of the books but without a support group and qualified therapist a good deal of the strength of it is lost.
I do think, in my own short experience, that I am learning to recognize and shutdown a good bit of the negative nagging and destructive selftalk I engage in.
Michele
Posted by Noa on January 8, 2000, at 23:51:10
In reply to Re: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Social Phobia, posted by Canadian Michele on January 8, 2000, at 22:48:43
I think a combo of meds and therapy can help. I wouldn't frame it as a search for a CURE, though. What therapy can offer is strategies for coping and managing life, learning how to anticipate reactions and try to learn new ways of handling situations. You are right, though, that this will not negate the way your brain tends to work. As for the causality, no one really knows, but I think it is likely that biology and experience are mutually influential, and feed off of each other all the time.
Posted by CarolAnn on January 9, 2000, at 10:34:22
In reply to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Social Phobia, posted by Doug on January 8, 2000, at 21:05:18
Hey Doug, what I can offer is my experience:
BAck in my 20's, I suffered from depression, social phobia,and ADD. None of which were actually diagnosed, since I never knew that my "problems" had names and could be treated. I just thought I had some weird, defective, personality. Anyway, in my late 20's, I somehow actually managed to make a friend who is now like a sister to me. This friend(Lori) has no mental health issues at all, and is in fact a very gregarious and extremely social person. We joke that everyone she meets becomes one of her friends. Anyway, thru knowing Lori and enjoying her company, I found myself constantly being convinced, coaxed, or dragged, into various social situations. I think there is actually a type of therapy that does this(immersion therapy?). After a couple years of forcing myself into social behavior, I have actually come to enjoy many social occasions. I do still feel extreme discomfort in trying to think up conversation material with people I don't know, and I am still terrible at small talk, but overall I find myself to be pretty much cured of social phobia. I know it sounds impossible to imagine yourself doing this type of thing, but I think (considering my success) that if you could find a therapist, who was very skilled at this type of therapy, you could find yourself, if not cured, at least functional when it comes to social necessities. Hope this helps.CarolAnn
Posted by Snowie on January 9, 2000, at 16:20:43
In reply to Re: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Social Phobia, posted by CarolAnn on January 9, 2000, at 10:34:22
A few months ago someone suggested to me the book "How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends" by Don Gabor, so I went to my local bookstore and ordered a copy ... it's a small book (only $10) but it's packed with useful information. The copyright date is 1983 and is published by Simon & Schuster. If it's not available in your local bookstore it can easily be ordered, and it's also available for sale on the internet. I've read this book from cover to cover and I'm reading it again. It seems to have been written with the social phobic in mind, and it's been a social lifesaver for me.
Snowie
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.