A Pill To Ease Shyness?
Can a new medication help those fearful of social situations lose the butterflies fluttering in their stomachs? CBS This Morning Health Contributor Dr. Dave Hnida of CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver reports.
The anxiety people may have when called up to speak in public is a normal reaction, but for about 10 million Americans, the fear of social situations is very debilitating.
When fear of "performance" literally makes a person ill or causes them to avoid those situations completely, they may be suffering from a condition known as social anxiety disorder.
The fear of being negatively scrutinized or embarrassed usually begins during high school and can become progressively worse. The cause is unknown.
The most common symptoms include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Tense muscles
- Upset stomach
- Blushing
In a study funded by the company, over half of the 187 participants reported significant improvement in their social anxiety after taking Paxil. However, Paxil is not recommended for one-time use and does have side effects, including sexual dysfunction, nausea, and drowsiness.
Dr. Hnida says that people are usually diagnosed with social anxiety disorder if the fear or anxious anticipation of a social situation causes distress or interferes significantly with a person's daily routine, job or social life.
In severe cases, individuals drop out of school, lose out on job promotions, and have trouble maintaining relationships.