Can medications cure social my anxiety permanently if I incorporate CBT and exposure therapy with them?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 20-year-old male. I have problems with physical symptoms of social anxiety (mainly sweating, trembling, cold hands, and a lump in the throat).

My questions are:

1. Would psychopharmacological treatments, such as SSRIs and Beta-Blockers, be effective in treating these symptoms?

2. Do you recommend visiting a general physician to get the prescription for those medications?

3. Can these medications permanently cure my social anxiety if I incorporate CBT and exposure therapy with them?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concerns regarding your health,

Before answering your question, I just want to know whether the psychiatrist diagnosed you with social anxiety?

Anxiety symptoms belong to a very broad spectrum in which other conditions also have anxiety symptoms.

I am now coming to your queries.

1) The medications you mentioned are effective in treating anxiety disorders, but they should be taken under clinical supervision.

2) I recommend you to consult a psychiatrist and get diagnosed whether you have an anxiety disorder or not, and then he will discuss with you about the course and management of the condition, side effect profile, and he will prescribe you the medications.

3) There is a permanent cure in some patients with the combination of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and medications.

The cure depends on how well you are able to follow the instructions given in the CBT and how compliant you are with the medications.

Follow-up if you any further information

Thank you.