Posted by tecknohed on February 12, 2005, at 1:10:53
In reply to Re: What's working well for social anxiety these days? » Rocket Jackson, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2005, at 17:48:15
> I still don't understand how an upper can help anxiety. Can you explain as I have yet to find a combo that works. Fondly, Phillipa
High. Was just browsing through the posts when your question caught my attention. I suffered with extremely bad Social Phobia until just over a year ago (almost gone now, thanks to my beloved Nardil).
I also used to take illicit drugs to cope with it. Amphetamine was always my favourite drug of choice! I would go from being this scared, introvert, shy boy who sat in the corner on his own and say very little, to suddenly feeling alive, strong and confident and be able to talk and talk and talk and talk...........
I think that (for me at least),the reason a stimulant can work for Social Anxiety is that a big part of the problem is slow cognitive function. You cant think of what to say, your mind will go blank, etc. A stimulant can open some of these blocked pathways to make thinking much quicker whilst the added "buzz" gives confidence so you worry less about what you do say.
I would say this is probably why some of the "smart" drugs work also - cognitive enhancement.
Of corse, Social Phobia/anxiety is in a class of its own and stimulants will no doubt worsen many other types of anxiety.
Hope I've made some sense.
Kevin.
poster:tecknohed
thread:456012
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050207/msgs/456645.html