Apr
I’ve been getting help for a year with my social anxiety, i am doing really well and can see a huge change in me but i still feel anxious speaking to people as i go red and stutter my words. I’ll shake and that causes my anxiety to get higher.
I don't want to take medication as last time i went on it i got so bad i was nearly sectioned for my own safety so how can i reduce the redness and shaking? Will it come in time as i start to feel more confident or can i do something to help it now?
Answer:
hi hope, there is a lot you can do for anxiety! i don't know much about your particular problem because i didn't really suffer this badly from social anxiety, but in my own experience as you start to get better all the little things that you do because you're anxious tend to disappear because you have a newfound sense of inner strength and power.
anxiety takes away our feelings of inner strength because we feel so shaky, uncertain and powerless a lot of the time. but as you work on yourself with CBT and other methods then slowly as your confidence builds i think you will find that problems like the stuttering will fade away 
i wrote a massive post with lots of things that you can do to help out with anxiety: http://www.anxietyforum.net/forum/viewto… if you put some of these things to work like taking vitamin B, exercising and watching your diet then it should really help and have you in a good place for starting the CBT.
good luck with the CBT by the way, i'm pleased for you that you're taking that step! it's difficult to reach out for that kind of help so you should be proud of yourself xx
edit - for some help with the physical side of anxiety there’s a great book you can read called Optimum Nutrition for the Mind by Patrick Holford - he deals directly with how to feed out bodies to keep our mental health in good shape! i found it really helpful.
Answer:
The more you interact with others, the more confidence you’ll have, and talking and being in a crowd will come simple.
Before you begin feeling those old anxious feelings, take a deep breath and consider how ridiculous it is to be nervous. Tell yourself that you are an important part of this universe and you are just as smart as anyone.
As you get older, your feelings will improve and your anxiety will diminish.
You'll finally come to the conclusion that you’ve nothing to be nervous about and if others have a bad opinion of you, then that's their problem.
Answer:
One way is to behave as if you're not anxious and that you're someone confident. Hopefully then you won't begin noticing the signs of anxiety (blushing etc), that’ll set the spiral off again.
One book I would suggest is “Overcoming Shyness and Social Anxiety” by Gillian Butler, it's very good and is based on the principles of CBT.
Good luck
Answer:
Try breathing exercises
Answer:
Use high quality chocolate and i emphasize high quality.It worked great for me and it will work great for you.
Cocoa rich chocolate.Cocoa contains natural substances that reduce stress and pain and create a feeling of pleasure in your brain and increase your brain activity.How long effects last depends on how much you consume.Only a few pieces of high cocoa chocolate reduces your pain,anxiety or stress for most if not all day.Lindt exellence is my recomendation.The ideal chocolate you can buy and affordable to most people.You can find it in any store with large selection of items.The applications of cocoa are very wide ranging from consuming it before a dentist appointment to reduce pain and fear from the drill.It is very effective.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/t…
There are no unpleasant side effects if taken in moderation.