Whatever the cause of anxiety or panic attacks some sufferers turn to false props to help them cope with there fears. These props can be alcohol, hard drugs or tranquillizers but none of these will treat your problem and can easily add further stress and impair your ability to think or act normally.

Alcohol can be a relaxant and taken in moderation especially in a social environment can help to ease the stress of the day. However, it can be a small step from social drinking to becoming dependant upon alcohol to handle or escape from the problems you perceive that you have. Regular excessive consumption of alcohol will affect your ability to cope with both your professional and private life.

The other problem with alcohol is that whilst it may temporarily raise your mood and spirits it can quickly turn into feelings of depression and self loathing as the after effects kick in. Continual reliance on alcohol can lead to alcoholism and eventually serious health problems.

Non prescriptive “hard” drugs such as cocaine and heroin are an even bigger threat to a persons well being. Once someone begins taking using these props they will quickly become addicted and the “cure” becomes more acute than the anxiety or panic symptoms.
Even prescribed tranquillizers, sleeping pill and anti depressants can become addictive and lead to dependency.

So if alcohol and drugs are false props what will help you overcome anxiety and panic attacks?

There are ways that you can decrease the chance of an onset of a panic attack. You can learn how to deal with them better. You must recognize the symptoms. When the initial ones begin, they may be others that come along. Just remember to take slow and deep breaths.

Keep decreasing you anxiety level through things such as exercise and meditation. Don’t be in a rush and take your time with this. Doing it quickly can defeat the purpose. Therapy is a time consuming process and improvement will be gradual.

Don’t be hard on yourself. Take it easy. Don’t beat yourself over the head criticizing yourself because of your condition. Make sure that you avoid things such as cigarettes, teas that have caffeine, and carbonated drinks. That may be difficult, but at least start weaning your way off slowly.

Work on not thinking about things that may have been traumatic for you in the past. These traumatic events can shape how you will react to things in the future. You cannot allow the past to hinder you if you are looking to move forward.

Make sure to keep a loving and understanding support system around you so that you will be able to move forward every day. Whether it’s family members or a friend, they need to be genuinely interested in help you get better and relieve those fears that you have pent up inside.

Social Phobia can exhibit itself in several forms. Many of us suffer from some sort of social phobia or other. For instance there are a number of people who fear public speaking (glossophobia),. In fact a survey revealed that more people feared public speaking than those who feared death, and if you takke that to its logical conclusion that would mean the majority would prefer to be in the box than be the one to speak the eulogy.

Less common social phobias include the fear of walking down a street because the subject thinks everyone is looking at them. Another social phobia is the fear of public restrooms or eating in public. Basically phobias fall into two categories; one is the fear of acting in a certain manner in a public situation and the other is a fear of certain social interactions. Examples of the latter include parties, interviews, speaking to somebody you do not know or dealing with authority figures.

It is also important to not exactly what is and what is not a social phobia. A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of a thing or situation which is not normally dangerous. So if a person is a little nervous around poisonous spiders that is not a phobia. That is normal cautious behavior in a dangerous situation. But a person who is terrified to be near a small, harmless spider probably has a phobia.

The main concern for the sufferer, their family and friends is that if treatment is not sort the condition will grow and become worse. AS well as having an adverse effect on a persons personal, social and business life those suffering from social phobias will seek self destructive methods such as the help of excessive alcohol and or drugs to help them overcome their anxiety.

If you are or know someone who is suffering from a social phobia it is very much in the sufferer’s interest to seek proper professional medical advice. Irrational fears in someone else may at first seem amusing but if not treated can ruin someone’s life.