Social Anxiety Medication:
A Guide To Your Options

This page will show you all about the social anxiety medication that is commonly available. You will discover:

If your doctor prescribes you with drugs to deal with SAD (the wrong approach), you'll probably be given one of the medicines below:

2 Common Types of Social Anxiety Medication:
Benzodiazepines and SSRI's

1. Benzodiazepines:

Benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed type of social anxiety medication. They work by blocking nerve receptors in the brain.

'Benzo's' have been proven to have a positive effect in reducing social anxiety - in the short term. The problem with them is that, although they're harmless to your health, they're addictive and you can become dependent on them.

My article Medication For Social Anxiety Holds You Back shows that in the long term, there's nothing you can gain from social anxiety meds. 

The short-term anxiety relief that these drugs bring, is far outweighed by the uncomfortable long-term consequences.

I've written guides to 2 of the commonly prescribed Benzo's:

2. SSRI's: (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

SSRI's, also known as Anti-depressants, are sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety. 

Usually they're prescribed for depression, but the 'feel-good' effect that they can offer has lead to doctors using them for anxiety related conditions too.

They work by regulating the amount of serotonin that gets absorbed by the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that is used to send messages around the central nervous system. If it's levels get too low, your emotions can be negatively affected.

SSRI's have been shown to be less effective than Benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety. 

Having said that, the side-effects of SSRI's are nothing like as bad as Benzo's.


Click the links below for guides on the most commonly used SSRI's:

Comparing The Available
Social Anxiety Medication

If you really want medication, I can help you decide which one is best, by showing you some medicine comparisons. Comparing the:

Benzo's or SSRI's?
Neither; Social Anxiety Medication
Is Not The Answer
For Anyone

Medication for social anxiety is not the solution. SAD is a behaviour-born, psychological condition - which means that medication cannot fix it. Here, I'll convince you...

Social anxiety disorder is a stored process in your subconscious mind, created by your own behaviour. 

We learn lots of things this way, for example riding a bike and driving a car are also stored processes, learnt through behaviour.  The behavioural learning of those 3 processes is called operant conditioning. It's the process we use to learn almost everything we know or can do.

Why would it make sense to take medication for something that has been formed by the same process that helped you learn to ride a bike? More on this in my article overcoming social anxiety disorder.

Social phobia medication will only serve to hold you back. However, if your condition really feels bad and you are desperate for some sort of relief, try an SSRI, not a Benzo. Benzo's would relieve you for now, but would make life really uncomfortable later on.

Already Taking Social Anxiety Medication?
Don't Worry - It Won't Harm You

All of the medications are uncomfortable, yet harmless - so you are not at a health-risk. However, if you want to beat social anxiety rather than cover it up, you'll need to begin the withdrawal process:

If Medication Isn't The Answer, What Is?

The solution to social anxiety is to use new behaviour that will cause changes in your subconscious mind. These behavioural changes are the cure for SAD. My Overcoming Social Anxiety Guide can help you begin this process.