You maybe wondering why on Earth are we warning you about Beta Blockers when everybody else is taking it. The main reason is Beta blockers are drugs that are proven to have more or less harmful effects to physical and mental health such as sleep disturbances, low pulse rates, and nausea; we are talking about a long term effect here.
To define, beta blockers are simply drugs that are prescribed by doctors for treating a number of physical disorders/traumas like hypertension, migraines, and heart related diseases to name a few. They specifically target the body’s beta adrenergic receptor which can be found in the brain, heart, lungs and blood vessels. Beta blockers manages the effects of norepinephrine, also known as the stress hormone and, diminishes the adrenaline effects to the body thus, slowing down the blood rush and oxygen supply to the heart which happens normally during a fearful state of mind. To cut the long story short, the drug simply calms the nerves and helps a person a bit, to deal with specific fears.
Historically, beta blockers have been a friend of people who significantly have socially related anxieties. As these types of anxieties (social phobias) persist in one or more social situations in which the person feels literally trapped and helpless in one corner and in which case most likely transpires an avoidance response and/or panic attack, people resort to beta blockers. In most cases, the drug is used for overcoming ’stage freights’ among musicians (as alternative to alcohol, etc.) and public speakers to improve coping mechanisms, stage performance and so on.
When it comes to anxiety disorders, beta blockers are not good for many reasons. On one hand, there is a high risk of drug dependency as most studies show, on the other hand, there is always the possibility of physical and mental discomforts such as hallucinations, nightmares, depression, and related central nervous system problems, and after the medication stage and you do not want any of these to happen to you.
The risks are too dangerous for you to take and you might want to consider the wealth of alternatives that’s actually waiting to help you deal better with your anxiety.
Now, the alternatives are numerous if you take the time to explore the options. The best way to put it is there are no silver bullets or you might say a ‘one size fits allí type of therapy that helps you efface your anxiety. What works for an individual may not work for another.
The most important thing is, you now know that there are a number of ways that are not toxic based treatment in dealing with whatever type of anxiety you might have and this is the best way to deal with a social anxiety disorder like fear of facing the public to name one.