Christmas is not a Happy Time for Everyone

If you listen to the advertisers, Christmas is the time when everyone is so overcome with joy, they rush out and buy presents, go to parties and have lots of fun. This may work for the majority, but there’s a growing number of people whose anxiety builds at the very thought of social gatherings. Christmas is particularly hard because there are office parties, family and friends hold get-togethers, and people are expected to socialize. At some point, they will be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Instead of enjoying meeting other people, those with the disorder develop a fear of embarrassing themselves. They feel others are judging them negatively all the time. These fears can slowly grow into panic if they are expected to do something in public. It’s particularly bad for those in the service industry who are expected to meet with the public. So, those who work in shops, fast food outlets and similar places find their lives disrupted as their fear of making mistakes undermines their self-confidence. It’s the same if a special occasion is coming where a person is expected to make a speech or perform in some way. The more special the occasion to those who will attend, the greater the fear of failure. Those with social anxiety disorder feel fear before, during and after social events at Christmas. For the sake of family and friends, most go through this annual torment because failing to appear strains relationships and causes misunderstandings. The threat of loneliness can overcome the fear. But there comes a point where the shaking voice, sweating, trembling, racing heart and nausea cannot be ignored. Family and friends see the discomfort and it spoils the event for everyone. It’s estimated that about 10% of the population in the US suffer some degree of this disorder. If complete social withdrawal is to be avoided, two things must happen. Cognitive behavioral therapy is an excellent way for people to learn how not to judge themselves too harshly. Everyone makes mistakes but most ignore them and get on with life. Habits have to change so that people can cope in social situations. This therapy can be used in parallel with xanax which calms the anxieties and keeps panic at bay while people learn to face their own fears. The answer is not hiding away. The answer is devising strategies for social survival through discussion and role-play, and then going out into the world to practise them. Start with small events, mainly for family and some close friends. Stay with the least threatening until confidence returns. Xanax will help in the short-term, but you should discuss how the drug is to be used with your therapist. Finally, do not drink alcohol at these social events if you do buy xanax and start using it. The mixture can cause unwanted side-effects.