[neutrino]

As far as I know I'm diagnosed with depression and several anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorder being one of them. My social anxiety makes most social situations difficult for me (even going out is very hard a lot of the time, though I still force myself to do it) and it's severe enough for me to need some extra support/help at university. I really hate the way it limits me and I especially hate how it affects my studies. Group projects, group discussions and giving presentations are things that I find pretty impossible (especially the talking in front of people).

Anyway, in 1.5 month or so I have to give a presentation in front of my class on my own and it's supposed to be around 10-15 minutes long. Needless to say I panicked and felt like disappearing from this world when I got to know about it. Just thinking about it triggers my fight-or-flight response. Since I have to go through with this presentation and I don't see how it can be done without having a panic attack, I've been thinking about asking my psychiatrist to prescribe me some beta blockers.

I'm not on any other medication because I'm pretty scared of medication. That includes beta blockers but I don't see how else I will get through this kind of situation at university. I'm scared of medication but I'm terrified of failing so perhaps trying beta blockers before giving presentations would help.

Got some questions:

1. What do you think about this idea?
2. What are your experiences with beta blockers? Do they work etc?
3. I think my heart beats quite fast all the time (my resting heart rate is quite high) due to constant stress and constant worry etc, but what would happen if I took a beta blocker and my heart didn't beat too fast before taking the medication? Would the medication make it beat horribly slow or something? I don't know but that thought sort of scares me.

Thanks,

neutrino

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by neutrino

As far as I know I'm diagnosed with depression and several anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorder being one of them. My social anxiety makes most social situations difficult for me (even going out is very hard a lot of the time, though I still force myself to do it) and it's severe enough for me to need some extra support/help at university. I really hate the way it limits me and I especially hate how it affects my studies. Group projects, group discussions and giving presentations are things that I find pretty impossible (especially the talking in front of people).

Anyway, in 1.5 month or so I have to give a presentation in front of my class on my own and it's supposed to be around 10-15 minutes long. Needless to say I panicked and felt like disappearing from this world when I got to know about it. Just thinking about it triggers my fight-or-flight response. Since I have to go through with this presentation and I don't see how it can be done without having a panic attack, I've been thinking about asking my psychiatrist to prescribe me some beta blockers.

I'm not on any other medication because I'm pretty scared of medication. That includes beta blockers but I don't see how else I will get through this kind of situation at university. I'm scared of medication but I'm terrified of failing so perhaps trying beta blockers before giving presentations would help.

Got some questions:

1. What do you think about this idea?
2. What are your experiences with beta blockers? Do they work etc?
3. I think my heart beats quite fast all the time (my resting heart rate is quite high) due to constant stress and constant worry etc, but what would happen if I took a beta blocker and my heart didn't beat too fast before taking the medication? Would the medication make it beat horribly slow or something? I don't know but that thought sort of scares me.

Thanks,

neutrino

A long time ago a doc prescribed some Propranolol for GAD, it didn't help at all...Xanax worked the best for me for preformance anxiety! Best of luck!

[sewerrats]

beta blockers don't touch base , pretty crap really

[neutrino]

So you don't think they'd work during a presentation? I don't want something I'll have to take regularly, just something that could help me out in situations I can't handle at university.

[sewerrats]

CBT therapy may help , but your problem is not rare , you don't faint or pass out so its not chronic

[neutrino]

Originally Posted by sewerrats

CBT therapy may help

Hasn't worked so far.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by neutrino

Hasn't worked so far.

I said it may , it didn't work for me either. Taking a QUICK ACTING Benzo may help but that is serious stuff to get into, Anxiety is it to the point you loose your bodily functions then its bad.

[unaluna]

Ive been on daily beta blockers for a long time, like maybe 30 years, but i would still freak out in stressful situations like being called to the boss's office or even just paying my bills. I totally had to deal with my issues and get t wrapped around me like a blanket in my head before i stopped getting that horrible sinking feeling. But the beta blocker does help with my heart rate. I say pick your battles. If something can help you, why not give yourself that advantage? Really - what do you gain by holding yourself back? Maybe that isnt your issue, but it surely was mine.

[kittyfaye]

Originally Posted by neutrino

So you don't think they'd work during a presentation? I don't want something I'll have to take regularly, just something that could help me out in situations I can't handle at university.

I have social anxiety pretty bad too and I was prescribed propranolol 10mg and 0.5mg alprazolam. (Generics of Inderal and Xanax in that order)

I have to say they work and I only take them when I need to. It helps keep my heart from pounding out of my chest. I hope this helps.

[justbeingme80]

I took beta-blockers for a while and I don't really remember whether they helped or not. I wish I could answer your questions. I have heard that some people like CEOs and artists take them before performances or presentations to help.