According to one consumer survey, 67% of kratom consumers use it for self-management of various anxiety disorders, including social anxiety. Although most people refer to everyday nervousness, shyness, and introversion as social anxiety, the contrary is true.
Social anxiety is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming self-consciousness and chronic fear of judgment during social interactions. Moreover, it is an indiscriminate disorder that can affect anyone, including extroverts, and affected persons seek non-medical solutions to remedy the condition.
However, can green malay kratom from alleviate social anxiety disorder, and how? Keep reading to learn more about social anxiety and kratom.
What Is Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
As stated above, social anxiety is an anxiety disorder that makes social interactions unbearable for affected individuals. For persons diagnosed with social anxiety, every social interaction, including a casual exchange with a neighbor or grocery store attendant, feels like a make-or-break presentation in a packed auditorium.
According to statistics, the condition affects 15 million American adults at some point during their lifetime. Moreover, the second set of statistics showed that 75% of people with SAD or social phobia experience their first symptoms during early childhood or pubescent years.
SAD has physical and behavioral symptoms that affected parties display during situations that provoke anxiety. The physical symptoms include heart palpitations, constricted breathing, sweating, nausea, facial flushing, trembling, and stammering. Moreover, behavioral SAD symptoms include self-isolation, avoiding eye contact, and avoidant behavior like refraining from participating in group activities.
Social anxiety has various root causes as follows:
- Genetics: According to one research study on genetics and anxiety disorders, the likelihood of inheriting an anxiety disorder from affected blood relatives is 30%-67%. Therefore, having family members who have SAD is a risk factor for developing the condition.
- Brain structure: Brain structure is closely related to genetics because one research study review concluded that people with SAD have an overactive amygdala. The theory here is that brain structure changes are genetic, although the matter requires more research.
- Childhood trauma: Individuals brought up in environments where they experienced violence or abuse tend to become withdrawn and may develop SAD.
- Nurture: SAD could also result from learned behavior, where one grew up with parents or close relatives who have social anxiety.
- Negative experiences: Bad memories from previous attempts at social interaction, like bullying, criticism, ridicule, or other forms of humiliation, may cause one to become withdrawn and develop SAD.
SAD has a profound negative effect on life aspects beyond the social realm, including school and work performance, where patients tend to compromise opportunities to accommodate the disease. However, kratom can potentially alleviate SAD, as explained below.
What Is Kratom: Can Kratom Alleviate Social Anxiety Disorder?
Kratom is an herbal tree that grows in Southeast Asia, with leaves purported to have therapeutic effects, including stress and anxiety relief. The herb entered the US market as an herbal supplement barely a decade ago, so only preliminary research exists on its botanical potential.
However, according to one literature review, kratom has alkaloid-rich leaves (contain 40 identified alkaloids), and the alkaloids bind to endogenous opioid system receptors to deliver therapeutic effects. Moreover, one case study on kratom for managing anxiety and depression proves the botanical’s efficacy in managing anxiety without escalating drug dependency.
Preliminary research on kratom’s mechanism of action shows that the herb’s primary alkaloids, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, interact with the endogenous opioid system, increasing dopamine release. Dopamine is a multifunctional neurotransmitter that regulates multiple body functions, including mood and muscle tension.
Moreover, a second study concluded that kratom’s alkaloids have an inhibitory effect on serotonin reuptake hormones, helping elevate serotonin concentration and signaling capacity. Serotonin is a hormone that regulates mood and feelings of wellbeing. Therefore, the data above validates kratom’s capacity to alleviate anxiety forms, including SAD.
Best Kratom Strains For Social Anxiety
However, kratom exists in various stains, each with dominant therapeutic effects. Moreover, kratom is biphasic, delivering stimulant, euphoric effects at lower doses and sedative effects at higher doses.
Therefore, using kratom to alleviate social phobia begins with identifying kratom strains with a dominant anxiolytic and euphoric capacity. Below are the top kratom strain suggestions for managing SAD.
Red Bali Kratom
Red Bali Kratom is a typical red-veined kratom strain, renowned for its potent anxiolytic effects. However, the kratom strain is also effective as a relaxation and anxiety relief agent.
Moreover, it also induces euphoria, helping SAD patients feel confident and comfortable in their skin and more willing to engage in conversation. However, its effects take time to kick in, so it is ideal for pre-planned events.
Green Malay Kratom
Green Malay Kratom is ideal for SAD because it is a balanced strain, delivering a boost of energy balanced with a sense of calm. The strain’s effects kick in gradually, starting with an energy boost that paves the way for relaxation. Green Malay Kratom also triggers a mild sense of euphoria, promoting feelings of wellbeing.
Red Borneo Kratom
Red Borneo Kratom is yet another feel-good kratom strain that can help a SAD patient become more sociable. Although a potent analgesic, the strain is also relaxing and elevates the mood to deliver blissful feelings of wellbeing.
White Maeng Da
White kratom strains are not typical choices for anxiety relief because they are dominant stimulants and can heighten anxiety. However, White Maeng Da Kratom is a potent anxiolytic that also delivers an energy boost and a pleasant euphoric sense without causing overstimulation.
Conclusion:
Kratom has immense potential as a natural SAD remedy, but it delivers individual-specific effects, so establish the strain and the dose that works for you. Second, over two-dozen kratom strains are available in the market, so do not limit yourself to the recommendations above. Lastly, ensure that you buy your kratom products from trustworthy vendors and have a proper kratom strain guide for analysis for their products and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
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