Anybody use Xanax or Beta Blockers for Social Anxiety?

Hello all,

I'd love to get feedback from anybody who uses Xanax (or any other Benzo or Beta Blocker) to better deal with social anxiety.

Quick update on me... In September 2017, I finished weaning off Zoloft 50mg that I had been taking for about 8 years. I felt that it had lost its effectiveness. I've since been visiting a phycologist to learn about and work on CBT strategies. I am also taking the "Overcoming Social Anxiety: Step By Step" course online from the Social Anxiety Institute.

Since quitting Zoloft I've notice that my social anxiety is worse now that it has ever been (much worse than what brought me to Zoloft in the first place 8 years ago). It makes it very difficult to work on the 'real world' CBT strategies of actually getting back out there and interacting.

My question is should I try to use a benzo or other medication (beta blocker?) to help me tackle social anxiety while I work on these CBT strategies? I find myself avoiding social situations more and more, which is counterintuitive to CBT. I feel like I need a little assistance to gain the confidence to get back out there.

I plan to bring this up at my next meeting with my P-doc in January, but thought I'd get some real feedback from you all beforehand.

Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 12/29/2017 1:11:53 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks Scaredy Cat!

I'd love to hear from anyone that has seen positive results with Beta Blockers for Social Anxiety! I'm not that familiar with them.

If you have a lot of will power then i will share my story, I had anxiety and panic, I forget who gave us the best way to look at the situation but i suffered for many years after coming home from Nam. I also
drank , finally I got a good doctor at the VA. not real sure but i think h e gave me the 2.0 and they would
shut down the symptoms in just minutes. only problem was they would make me very sleepy, so i cut them in half, it took a couple of weeks but i finally got down to 1/4 or 0.5 and this was perfect I started carrying one or two, after a while i got to where just knowing i had them with me I could work or play I knew i was safe when one day i checked my pills and they had turned to dust. after that i knew i could fig ht down the panic that was quite a few years ago, one small thing i had going for me was HW and SC can talk anyone down off the ledge of life's fear. Peace
Larry***

Ummm yay, hi Larry!!!

Ok. So I’m on a beta blocker for blood pressure but have tried it for anxiety before and it really didn’t do much for me. However, I don’t just have social anxiety issues, but more panic attacks, so I’m much better off with my benzo. I take .5 of Xanax as needed. I’ve been dependent on it and also tapered off of it 3 times with no issue. (Difference between addicted and dependent is key) Xanax can be very helpful if used as prescribed and if your personality isn’t geared toward addiction issues.

Also, reading what Larry wrote just reminded me to take my Xanax a little less and just feel better knowing I have it if I need it. Thanks as always Larry!!

For me it just makes me feel more capable. I can go into a situation and not feel as awkward or like all I can focus on is uncomfortable physical sensations. I take a very appropriate dose of Xanax for my level of anxiety and panic, so I never feel loopy or tired or anything like that.

I know that a lot of people worry about addiction to benzos and I did take klonopin years ago and that stuff knocked my out cold, but for me Xanax is really the perfect drug. I’m allowed it 3x a day as needed and sometimes I take it 3x and sometimes I take it 1.

Feel free to ask if you have anymore questions!

No, I don’t think it makes me less sharp at all. I started at a dose of .25 and years later during a bad panic time I bumped up to .5 and that is where I’ve stayed.

Honestly, I no longer work as I stay home with my kids, but when I was in business, I was a much more put together business person because I was less focused on whether or not my face was as red as it felt and if my hands were shaking.

I have no experience with rebound anxiety. I have taken Xanax for years and also successfully tapered off of it about 3x and of it is done right, it’s really not a problem at all. Also, if you use it just on occasion for as needed reasons I don’t see why you would have trouble.

Obviously Xanax will not rid you of anxiety. It’s just another tool in your belt. I still have a therapist and I still use other tools to help manage my panic, but I will say (and many on here can attest to it for me because they lived through it with me), xanax got me out of the scariest place I’ve ever been and I will always be thankful I had it!