The fact that anxiety can be artificially produced by injections of sodium lactate, or consumption of caffeine in certain people and not in others. Options When the wearing effects of social anxiety finally outweigh the benefits derived from avoiding meaningful social contacts, a person may wish to focus on one or several options, separately or in combination. These include the possibilities of diet change, medication, individual therapy or supportive group therapy. Support Group A support group consists of a number of people who, because of similar struggles and aspirations, can offer understanding and encouragement to individuals as they gradually work towards gaining social confidence. In an environment of developing trust and mutual respect one can practice shedding the cloak of anxiety which formerly hid one's self from the view of others.
Focusses are both educational and experiential.
Educational topics include an overview of the different treatment and philosophical approaches to social anxiety, a look at the roles of diet, past experiences, distorted thinking, imagination and will. Experiential focusses are based on the assumption that action often does cure fear. Such actions include the process of self-disclosure, desensitization to criticism, the practice of relaxation and visualization techniques, the verbal challenge of one's own negative thinking and individualized homework with group support.