Xanax for Social Anxiety Disorder (A complete Guide)

In this brief guide we are going to discuss Xanax for social anxiety, discuss how xanax can be an effective medication for social anxiety and any side effects of taking xanax.

Benzodiazepines have an anxiety relief. Is my Social Anxiety ever going to go? How can I get rid of Social Anxiety quickly? Is Xanax the right one? These are some of the concerns that people have.

Xanax, marketed as Alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders, primarily panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. Xanax was developed in 1956 by Dr. Leo Sternbach and authorized for use in the United States in 1981. It is the most widely prescribed drug and is a popularly abused drug.

How does Xanax help in the treatment of Social Anxiety?

 Xanax helps in the treatment of social anxiety by reducing symptoms and bringing the person a soothing feeling.

When diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, the first form of drug administered by clinicians is SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Physicians may also recommend Paxil or Zoloft. They can start with a low dose of medication and gradually increase the dose to reduce the side effects.

Xanax is prescribed for people with Social Anxiety Disorder to treat cognitive symptoms such as fear of being negatively judged or fear of being embarrassed. It does not eliminate the cause of social anxiety disorder, but rather helps to reduce symptoms. Xanax relieves one from the symptoms for a short time rather than a long time.

Individuals suffering from social anxiety need to consider long-term treatment, including both Xanax and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is needed to examine the cause of social anxiety and Xanax is needed to alleviate symptoms and to encourage the client to attend therapy. Xanax for Social Anxiety is required during psychotherapy, which should be carefully supervised by the psychiatrist.

What is Social Anxiety disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is the most prevalent anxiety disorder, with an early age of 11 years in 50 percent of the population and 20 years in about 80 percent of the population. Social anxiety disorder is characterised by persistent, extreme fear of social situations and unfavourable judgement by others.

People with this condition have difficulty talking to strangers, attending social events and becoming the object of attention. They can realise that their fears are unreasonable, but they find it difficult to resolve them. They also try to avoid all social situations, such as shopping, eating in public, talking on the phone, work interviews, and asking questions.

This can cause extreme hardship in everyday life. It is a chronic mental health disorder that can be resolved by psychotherapy and proper treatment.

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Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

• Sweating
• Trembling
• Increase in heart rate
• Dizziness
• Muscle tension
• Rapid breathing
• Need alcohol to face social situations
• Skipping work or school because of anxiety
• Worrying about an event, days or weeks before
• Worrying that people would notice your anxious or stressed state

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Signs of Social Anxiety Disorder

• Fear of being embarrassed or humiliated
• Avoid being the center of attention
• Interacting with unfamiliar people can be nerve-wracking
• Attending parties or social gatherings can be difficult
• Uncomfortable eating in front of others

What is Xanax? 

Xanax is the brand name for Alprazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine. It is a widely prescribed psychological drug that has enabled many people to manage their levels of anxiety and their lives. Drugs similar to Xanax include Valium (Diazepam), Klonopin (Clonazepam) and Ativan (Lorazepam).

Benzodiazepines, a form of tranquiliser, has a relaxing effect that offers mental and physical relief. They work fast, giving this result in about 15 minutes. People who take Xanax as a recreation medication, or without prescription, have mentioned feelings of sedation or calmness. Take a deep breath and feel at ease. How is Xanax providing such a result?

How does Xanax work?

Xanax is an oral drug that, once swallowed, gives rapid relief by increasing GABA activity and inhibiting neural activity resulting in sedation. This sedative effect eases the symptoms of anxiety and soothes the body’s reaction to anxiety.

This process leads to a calm and comfortable state of mind. Some people may feel the effects within 5 to 10 minutes, while almost everyone will experience the effects after an hour of taking the pill. This relaxed state can last six to twelve hours.

When is Xanax used? 

Xanax is used to alleviate panic and anxiety in the short term. It is also used for insomnia and to relieve anxiety before surgery. Only a trained medical practitioner may diagnose if you have a social anxiety disorder and prescribe the necessary medicine. Xanax has a half-life of about 11 hours. At this time , the body has absorbed half of the dose from the bloodstream. Half-life depends on the person.

Side effects of Xanax

How Xanax affects one depends on a variety of factors, such as the mental state at the time of drug ingestion, age , weight, metabolism and dosage. Xanax and alcohol have many side effects. Mental and physical disability, dizziness, sluggish response time, lack of balance and coordination, sleepiness. Other side effects include memory deficits, slurred speech, headache, difficulty concentrating, stomach upset, and blurred vision.

Risks of Xanax 

• If you have narrow-angle glaucoma
• If you are pregnant
• If you are breastfeeding
• If you are allergic to Xanax or other Benzodiazepines
• If you have liver or kidney problems
• If you are under eighteen (not effective)

Due to their peaceful and relaxing nature, Xanax tends to be often misused to achieve the high. It is a habit-forming drug. Taking more than the prescribed dose and more frequently with other drugs or alcohol can be fatal. 

Alcohol enhances the effects of Xanax and slows the body from clearing drugs rapidly in the body. If alcohol is consumed after taking the drug, it can lead to intense lethargy and severe memory loss. This mixture can lead to deadly side effects such as trouble breathing, extreme drowsiness, confusion and seizures.

Because of their calm and relaxing nature, Xanax appears to be misused to get high. It’s a habit-forming drug. Taking more than the recommended dosage and more often with other drugs or alcohol may be fatal.

Xanax is also used for recreation purposes. It is a well-known street drug that enhances the effects of alcohol in social contexts such as parties. Extended use of Xanax can lead to dependency, and sudden termination can lead to withdrawal symptoms, which may lead to seizures and worse, death.

Withdrawal symptoms begin two to seven days after your last dose, and may last two to eight weeks. Withdrawal symptoms  include depressed mood, suicide ideation, confusion, hostility, hallucination, and uncontrolled muscle movements.

Long-term abuse and addiction to Xanax is associated with depression, psychotic experiences and violent or impulsive behaviour. The mixture of Xanax and other medications should be avoided. Some drugs can prevent the pathway responsible for clearing Xanax out of your body. Over time, this may lead to a buildup of drugs leading to an overdose.

How does Xanax help in the treatment of Social Anxiety?

 Xanax helps in the treatment of social anxiety by reducing symptoms and bringing the person a soothing feeling.

When diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, the first form of drug administered by clinicians is SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Physicians may also recommend Paxil or Zoloft. They can start with a low dose of medication and gradually increase the dose to reduce the side effects.

Xanax is prescribed for people with Social Anxiety Disorder to treat cognitive symptoms such as fear of being negatively judged or fear of being embarrassed. It does not eliminate the cause of social anxiety disorder, but rather helps to reduce symptoms. Xanax relieves one from the symptoms for a short time rather than a long time.

Individuals suffering from social anxiety need to consider long-term treatment, including both Xanax and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is needed to examine the cause of social anxiety and Xanax is needed to alleviate symptoms and to encourage the client to attend therapy. Xanax for Social Anxiety is required during psychotherapy, which should be carefully supervised by the psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy and Medications for Social Anxiety Disorder

Benzodiazepines, particularly Xanax, are the most common drugs prescribed. The available doses of Xanax are 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg , 1 mg and 2 mg. Doctors often advise first-time patients to take the lowest dosage because the effects of the drug on the person are unknown.

But these drugs are short-term, which is not effective for long-term use. CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) is the most effective psychotherapy that focuses on restructuring negative emotions and developing the skills needed to participate in a social situation.

Anti-Anxiety tips

For people who prefer natural remedies over medications, these tips might be helpful

• Physical Exercises
• Stress management – Practice yoga, meditation, and look for stress busters. If you’re open to trying yoga for anxiety and stress relief, check out these top Yoga DVDs. 
• Practice mindfulness
• Nature walks
• Talk about it with the people you trust

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Benzodiazepines are best used in the short term , particularly in crisis situations. Xanax has the most common use for social anxiety , panic and depression. It is safer to avoid Xanax and related medications for long-term use unless there is no other alternative left. If you believe you may have signs of Social Anxiety Disorder, it is best to contact your doctor.

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FAQs: Xanax for Social anxiety

Conclusions

In this brief guide we discussed Xanax for social anxiety, discussed how xanax can be an effective medication for social anxiety and any side effects of taking xanax.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Citations

• Recreational Use of Xanax. (2019, May 08). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://discoverymood.com/blog/recreational-use-xanax/
• Cuncic, A. (2020, March 17). Why Xanax Is Prescribed for Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms. Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-is-xanax-used-to-treat-social-anxiety-disorder-3024964
• Article by: Nancy Josephson Liff, & Medically reviewed by: Dr. Michael McGee. (2020, August 13). Is Xanax (Alprazolam) Right for You? Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.psycom.net/xanax
• Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). (2017, August 29). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353567
• Life Noggin – What does Xanax really do to your body: Accessed Oct 30, 2020, from https://youtu.be/6OppVf9Ty-E
• Higuera, V. (2018, September 03). Social Anxiety Disorder: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis. Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/social-phobia
• Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash
• Photo by The Tonik on Unsplash
• Does Xanax treat social anxiety? (n.d.). Quora – A place to share knowledge and better understand the world. https://www.quora.com/Does-Xanax-treat-social-anxiety
• Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. (2017, August 29). Mayo Clinic – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353567#:~:text=Treatment%20depends%20on%20how%20much,therapy)%20or%20medications%20or%20both
• DEFINE_ME. (2008). The Lancet, Regional Health. https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/cookieAbsent?code=null