Millions of people all over the world suffer from social anxiety. For them, dealing with everyday social situations can be a nightmare and way too often their only solution is to avoid them. If you are experiencing this disorder, there is a natural product that can make your life much easier: kratom. In this article, you will find out how to use kratom for social anxiety.
Social Anxiety: Symptoms and Problems
Most of us may feel uncomfortable in certain social situations. Public speaking, meeting new people or entering a room full of strangers can be uneasy for many individuals. However, for people suffering from social anxiety, dealing with these social situations is much harder, to such an extent that it can be an unbearable task.
Social anxiety (also known as social phobia) is a type of anxiety disorder that affects social life and interactions. People suffering from social anxiety feel unbearably uncomfortable in social situations. They constantly fear being judged, humiliated or embarrassed. The very idea of facing common social situations, such as social encounters, knowing new people or even entering a room full of people, makes them terribly anxious. As a result, they tend to isolate themselves and to avoid common social situations, even if they are aware that their fears are irrational.
Alcohol and Social Anxiety
Sadly, many people rely on alcohol to manage their social anxiety. While alcohol can help you disinhibit yourself, it also affects your mood, impairs your judgment, makes you lose coordination and can even lead to a blackout (a memory loss due to heavy drinking). Also, if you drink too much, chances are you’ll have a horrible hangover the next morning.
But in the long term, the effects of alcohol on your body and in your life are much more serious. Alcohol abuse is related to liver conditions, such as cirrhosis. It also damages the brain, causing cognitive issues and a disorder known as the Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), a condition that causes eye nerves paralysis and loss of muscle coordination, among other symptoms. Furthermore, alcohol also increases the risk of several cancers, such as breast cancer, mouth cancer or liver cancer. But also, a prolonged use of alcohol can easily end up in developing an addiction and will damage all kind of relationships, from family to professional relations.
What Is Kratom? Kratom and Its Effects
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia that is gaining a lot of popularity thanks to its healing properties. The leaves of the kratom tree contain many alkaloids (like mitragynine) that act on the opioid receptors in your brain and provide relaxing, energizing or pain-relieving effects. People use kratom to:
- Relieve pain
- Manage anxiety
- Cope with depression
- Fight insomnia
- Get an energy boost
- Feel euphoria
- Cope with opiate withdrawal
Kratom is a natural product with very few side effects, and many people suffering from social anxiety have found in kratom a perfect ally to manage this condition.
There are three main kratom types, depending on the color of the leaf stem and vein: white kratom, green kratom and red kratom, and each of them has several strains (or varieties) generally named after their place of origin (for instance, Green Malay or Red Borneo).
You will usually find kratom in powder, that you can brew in a tea or mix with applesauce, yogurt or smoothies. But there are also kratom extracts or enhanced kratom, which are much more potent than regular kratom powder.
How to Use Kratom for Social Anxiety
Kratom will alleviate the anxiety symptoms without the dangerous side effects of alcohol or anxiolytics. It will make you feel more confident, more outgoing and talkative. By using kratom for social anxiety, you will notice many of your symptoms are just gone. But at the same time, you will not suffer from the side effects of alcohol or anti-anxiety drugs. That is, kratom will not impair your judgment, it will not affect your coordination and, of course, it will not cause you any blackout. When using kratom for social anxiety, you will be totally aware of what is happening around you. And you will be enjoying it.
Most people using kratom for social anxiety agree that the best kratom strains for social anxiety are the green and red strains. In the case of green strains, users favor them for their euphoric effects and because they are also very good for managing stress. Furthermore, green strains provide very long-lasting effects. Green kratom varieties are also very balanced and enhance focus and concentration.
Red kratom strains are the most relaxing kratom varieties. Their calming properties can even turn out sedative at high doses. Also, red kratom is users’ choice for pain relief.
If you want to use kratom for social anxiety, it is better you start with low doses. In case you are new to kratom, start with 1 gram. If after 45 minutes you do not feel the effects, you can add 0.5 grams more. Also, do not use extracts or enhanced kratom, as these products are more potent than regular kratom and should only be used by expert users who are much more familiar with kratom.
Kratom Side Effects
Kratom has few side effects, and in many cases, they are due to too high doses or to an inappropriate use. Most common kratom side effects include:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Eye wobbles
- Loss of libido
If you use kratom for a prolonged period, you will probably experience constipation and/or libido loss. In the case of constipation, you can mitigate it by eating many vegetables and fruits, drinking plenty of water, taking fiber supplements or even using a soft laxative. If you notice your sex drive is slowing down, using a natural aphrodisiac, such as muira puama, can be very helpful.
On the other hand, a long-term use of kratom can eventually lead to kratom tolerance. If you develop kratom tolerance, you will need higher doses to feel its effects. And finally, there will come a time when you will feel no effects at all. In order to avoid this, try to stop taking kratom for a while as soon as you start noticing its effects become milder.
Other Therapies for Social Anxiety
Psychological therapy is crucial to fighting social anxiety. Look for a specialist in social anxiety, someone who really understands your problem and knows how to face it. Most people dealing with social anxiety find cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) very useful. Participating in group therapy and sharing your experiences with others who are suffering from the same issues can also be beneficial and will help you improve your social skills and overcome your fears. Also, practicing a sport, finding a hobby or even listening to music can be of help.
