Cognitive-behavioral treatments (e.g., cognitive restructuring, in-vivo exposure, and social skills training) have been found to be effective in the treatment of social phobia. In addition, several different types of medications have been found to be useful for the anxiety and apprehension associated with the disorder. Your physician or a psychiatrist can prescribe the one that she/he thinks would be best for you.

One problem with a medication-only approach for social anxiety disorder is that anxiety symptoms almost always return if the medication is stopped. For this reason, it is best that if you do take medication, you also get cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Cognitive-behavioral therapy is essential in the treatment of phobias associated with anxiety disorders. Scientific research studies conducted in universities and medical schools throughout the world have consistently shown that most people who get CBT for social anxiety disorder improve, and they continue to sustain their improvement when tested a year or more after therapy is stopped.

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