anyone ever been through CBT?

[vital]

I'm thinking about going through CBT for my social anxiety. I've been recommended to do so since seeing a school counselor a few years ago but I've never had the time or money/insurance to do so. Now that I'm working I really think it's starting to affect my work/social life. Anyone ever gone through CBT and had great success through it? I don't wanna take any SSRI's because all they do is give me sleep problems and mood swings.

 

[evilsaint]

I've been considering CBT also, but i've heard a bunch of mixed opinions, mostly bad ones, even from two psychiatrists 🙁 Also, it can be really expensive, even for just a 12 or 16 week session. If your health insurance covers most of the costs for outpatient mental health procedures, i'd say go for it, but beware of the $2000+ that it may cost for a longer treatment, group or solo.

AFAIK, the best solution is to find a non-invasive medication that works for you, take it regularly, and work your way through the "tweakiness", as I call it, in everyday life 😀 Possibly find a good social worker or psychologist to talk to about your problems specifically, but more than anything, just confront your fears instead of ignoring them or running away, no matter how much it may hurt you inside or scare you. Benzodiazepams in small doses such as Valium, Klonopin, etc... can be slightly addictive in some cases, but work wonders for quelling the anxiety.

From my experience, having been dealing with my social anxiety for about four years, the best thing that i've found to do is keep as active of a social life as is healthy/viable/fun for you, and spend the rest of your time doing your best to relax alone or with friends and loved ones. I wish you the best of luck in dealing with it, as I know just how difficult it can be, and if you'd like any advice or guidance, feel free to PM or e-mail me.

 

[evilsaint]

BTW, SSRI's are like putting a band-aid on a shotgun wound when it comes to Social Anxiety Disorder. They're nice to have around to take temporarily if you end up going through a tough period (most pshrinks give them out like candy...), but there have been numerous studies showing that they do just about nil for SAD specifically.

Another note that I forgot to mention is to definitely let your friends/family know about how you're feeling and that you'd like their emotional support (if you want/need a shoulder to stand on), but to not let your co-workers know about it, unless you feel very close to them.