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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Shonyn on December 8, 2003, at 12:03:47
Hi there, I was considering using Inderal to help me get over Social Anxiety. I have tried using it on a couple of occasions and it has enabled me to walk into large group meetings etc and feel almost fine, something that really amazed me TBH.
I have an irrational fear in these kind of situations, it can be very crippling, sometimes I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack/pass out.
I've been thinking that if I went into enough of these situations (feeling calm and relaxed due to Inderal) in a short space of time & with a little help from some CBT, I might overcome the problem.
I can see that the Inderal may become my coping strategy if I continued to take them for too long, but if I wean my way off them whilst doing lots of social things like dance classes etc, I'd probably be OK.What do you think?
Posted by Kon on December 8, 2003, at 14:01:11
In reply to Inderal for overcoming Social Anxiety, posted by Shonyn on December 8, 2003, at 12:03:47
Like yourself, I also have severe public-speaking anxiety and in the past I've always used avoidance as my coping mechanism. From what I recall, I got panicky, my heart felt like it was going to rip through my chest, I trembled, lost my train of thoughts, etc. I only have mild anxiety in other social situations (parties, weddings, formal social gatherings). I wasn't as lucky as yourself as a beta-blocker was not enough for me. It was only after I added a benzo like clonazepam that I responded very well. I currently use as-needed clonazepam by itself or with atenolol. Since a beta-blocker is working for you and you're willing to try CBT, go for it. I personally do not believe CBT would do anything for me but it does seem to work for others. Wrt more generalized SAD and effectiveness with beta-blockers, studies show beta-blockers to be relatively ineffective for it, although it may work for performance-type or situational SAD. I consider myself to kinda lean toward this end of the SAD spectrum and yet atenolol by itself (even 100 mg) did not do much for me. But when combined with clonazepam (1-1.5 mg) it worked very well. I attribute by far the greater effect on the clonazepam.
Posted by Shonyn on December 10, 2003, at 6:55:40
In reply to Re: Inderal for overcoming Social Anxiety, posted by Kon on December 8, 2003, at 14:01:11
I struggle even with weddings, family events, parties etc. Basically any situation where I may become the centre of attention, I think it's a humiliation thing & it appears to be a genetic thing because all my family seems to suffer with it, some more than others.
I have used SSRI's (Paroxetine) in the past but to be honest, they aren't a long term solution and they didn't have any effect.
The drug you were talking about, clonazepam, is it something that you can only take once in a while or is it something that can be taken on a daily basis forever?
Posted by SandyWeb on December 10, 2003, at 7:37:53
In reply to Re: Inderal for overcoming Social Anxiety, posted by Shonyn on December 10, 2003, at 6:55:40
I take Inderal LA 80mg twice a day. The "LA" stands for "Long Acting". I have social anxiety. I take it in the morning and at bedtime.
A beta blocker is only going to help with physiological symptoms (racing heart, sweating palms, shaky voice, dry mouth) and not the psychological symptoms (fear).
That being said, sometimes you don't have as much anxiety when you discover that your heart isn't racing and your face isn't red! *smile*
I also find it relaxing to know that I will not have a full-blown panic attack because my heart will not be racing out of control. Basically, a beta blocker prevents the adrenaline from being allow to enter the heart and firing you up for fight-or-flight.
Ask your doctor for the Inderal LA version. It is safe to take unless you have low blood pressure or some other cardiovascular problem. People even take beta blockers regularly for migraines.
Good luck!
Posted by Shonyn on December 10, 2003, at 11:46:08
In reply to Re: Inderal for overcoming Social Anxiety, posted by SandyWeb on December 10, 2003, at 7:37:53
It is the racing heart, sweating palms, shaky voice, dry mouth, & that I'm going to look and feel out of control that I can't cope with. I think it is the fear of those things that I am most afraid of because I feel everyone is going to notice it & hence the humiliation. I have always done a good job of hiding it by avoiding situations, using drink etc.
Thanks for the feedback, I think it's time to see the doc! It's not the ideal solution but it might help me with the exposure technique.
Posted by Kon on December 10, 2003, at 18:50:53
In reply to Re: Inderal for overcoming Social Anxiety, posted by Shonyn on December 10, 2003, at 6:55:40
>The drug you were talking about, clonazepam, is it something that you can only take once in a while or is it something that can be taken on a daily basis forever?
No it can be taken once in a while, as needed. That's how I use it.
This is the end of the thread.
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