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.
poster:Kon
thread:287702
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/287753.html