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
poster:Canadian Michele
thread:18424
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000101/msgs/18432.html