Growing up, I had no idea what social anxiety was. I was a naturally shy kid who preferred to curl up on the couch with a book rather than expose my inferior physical skills playing with other kids. I had a vivid imagination that took me to places of fantasy lands and real geographical locations I didn’t fathom ever visiting. Even as a blossoming young adult I preferred hiding behind a magazine cover when forced to attend social events and dance parties. I never felt completely comfortable in a room full of strangers.
So, I choose a career as a computer programmer, being completely comfortable in the company of other naturally shy and awkward young adults, and being able to converse with my computer any time I wanted. In a few years, my life took an unusual turn, and I discovered a vast, beautiful world surpassing my wildest childhood imagination. And, most importantly, I found amazing people who I never knew existed, some of them quite magical. I discovered a world where I was completely comfortable being myself. And even though I’m still not 100% okay being in a room with strangers to socialize, I’m ok with that.
Maybe I always had social anxiety but was able to tailor and fine tune it to my lifestyle? And perhaps I was never diagnosed.
When my child told me about experiencing social anxiety, I immediately thought: Is it genetic? Is it observed and adopted? What is it?
So, what is it?
Social anxiety can be described as a general feeling of uneasiness and irrational fear that occurs during social situations.
- Generalized social anxiety is when these feelings happen during any social situations.
- Non-generalized social anxiety when anxiety happens only in particular types of situations.
Regardless of what kind it is, the person who is experiencing it can appear very normal but be a mess on the inside.
Social anxiety can manifest itself in many forms:
- Rapid heartbeat when faced with talking to somebody
- Avoidance of social situations
- Fear of public speaking
- Excessive quietness
- Fear of being criticized
- Being judgmental of self and others
The list goes on. But most of the time it’s impossible to tell from the outside that person is experiencing social anxiety.
So, if you or your loved one is experiencing this very unpleasant phenomenon, what can you do?
First of all, know that it’s not your fault, and – most of the time – it’s not your lack of social skills, either. It can be something you work on, though, because some of the most accomplished and brilliant people reportedly had and overcame their social anxiety.
What are your options?
My favorite, of course, is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). With this fascinating tool, you can create behaviors you want, change the perception of your reality, and transform negative beliefs into inspirational beliefs.
NLP helped me a lot, in fact, it helped me to build a life I wanted, and it is still a big part of my life. My patients and clients know the power of it, and every day I teach more people to take their life to the next level with NLP.
However, social anxiety also can be caused or perpetuated by chemical imbalances in your brain. When you restore that balance, you will feel so much better.
The primary neurotransmitters involved in the anxiety response are GABA, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and glutamine. Of course, there are other considerations with your energy level or underlying health conditions. This is not a substitute for valid medical advice, this information is only for educational purposes.
Now, how can you restore chemical balance in the brain without pharmaceuticals? (Since, actually, it’s very often that pharmaceuticals don’t work as intended because of nutritional deficiencies, genetic components, or even multiple drug interactions.) Nootropics can be your answer to that.
The proper way to stack nootropics is your key to success. You have to know what you are dealing with, what your symptoms are, and how to stack them. Let’s take a look at a few natural herbal nootropics that can help with social anxiety:
Ashwagandha and Coffee
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb (meaning non-organ specific) that’s been used for centuries to restore hormonal and nervous system balance. It has a calming and relaxing effect, and it boosts focus and concentration. It can restore energy when taken by itself.
It is so relaxing it can slow your brain down, so for balancing it’s taken with coffee. While making you alert, it creates a feeling of mental comfort.
Bacopa
This is another adaptogenic herb, and it’s very well known for its ability to quiet the mind, enhance memory, and improve focus.
After a challenging day, you can take Bacopa and Ashwagandha together for better relaxation before going to bed.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea leaves. When taken as a supplement it can give you a sense of calmness and relaxation without slowing you down. It can increase your learning abilities. Next time you have to go into a social setting, try to take 100 mg or 200 mg and see what happens.
Phenibut
This is a synthetic nootropic that is structurally similar to GABA, and it has a calming effect without affecting cognitive abilities. What makes it great for social anxiety relief is that you can think clearly and act relaxed when facing a social situation.
Aniracetam
Aniracetam is one of my favorite nootropics. It is capable of relaxing you and improving your mood. It should be taken with some form of choline because it activates choline receptors in your brain. I like it because, if faced with a task I have to concentrate on, I can really focus and ignore all distractions.
With all this said, you don’t have to struggle with anxiety – social or any other – on your own. There are many resources available within your reach.
Doctor Maya’s Herbal Favorites:
L-Theanine 100 mg, 60 capsules
Regarding the nootropics I listed above, you can contact me to assess your individual needs and create the right stack for you. Every situation is different, and you can educate yourself on what is right for you and experiment safely and responsibly.
Nootropics are one of the ways to relieve anxiety, improve mood, and increase focus and learning abilities. You can always contact Dr. Maya.
