How do you get stimulants prescribed for social anxiety?

[don21]

I want to try amphetamines for social anxiety, but doctors don't like prescribing them unless you have ADHD. I used to go to a psychiatrist, but all she gave me were antidepressants and the occasional benzo. I feel like antidepressants are sugar pills and benzos aren't very good for social anxiety. Benzos alleviate some of the physical symptoms but the mental anxiety is still there. I feel like stimulants would be the most useful for social anxiety since they give you confidence and will eliminate the mental anxiety (i.e. negative self talk, limiting beliefs, always thinking of the worst outcome etc...).

I feel like if I just had something strong enough for me to socialize, I could gain social confidence and be able to do it without the drugs. At the very least, I could make friends while on drugs for the initial getting to know someone phase and then I'd be comfortable around them enough to be myself without the drugs.

Anyone tried stimulants for social anxiety? I think they are the answer.

 

[Louco]

As someone who have both ADHD and Social Anxiety, I can tell you that you have a wrong picture of how stimulants work... Socializing while under the initial effect of having them (which won't last for an hour) won't make the anxiety of socializing without them go away. Actually, it's more likely to make it worse, because you will feel like it's only possible when you are under that effect, and said effect will get weaker and shorter every time. Seriously, it's really short-lived and it will make you feel worse the rest of the day. If I didn't need for my focus I wouldn't use it ever again.

Instead, try to find treatment with a capable therapist who focus on social anxiety instead of generic psychiatrists, they often don't know how to deal with the problem.

 

[BlueWitch]

I have been diagnosed with ADD and social anxiety by my current psychiatrist. 10 years ago I was originally diagnosed with depression by a different psych doctor. The myriad of SSRI meds I was placed on didn't help. Then 4 years ago I consulted a new psych (my now current physician). I told her that none of the antidepressants helped, how I can't stay focused, how I start a million things and finish none of them, and how dead tired I am from insomnia. She immediately told me I have Attention Deficit Disorder. She prescribed Adderall and Xanax. The Adderall has a very narrow window of promoting social interaction. I'm guessing I build up tolerance quickly. I take a week break every month to stop the tolerance, then go back on for 3 weeks. But even so, Adderall only lessens anxiety for the first 2 hours after ingestion with me, then I need to take the Xanax. Neither meds alone help with anxiety for me. I need both, which by the way I hate having to be stuck on. My advice to you for getting your doctor to try you out on stimulants is to tell her the truth about how you feel. My psychiatrist told me that being Attention Deficit causes major anxiety, so you may benefit from the stimulants. Also, you can request that your physician test you for ADD. Good Luck.