"If you are going to buy only one book on social anxiety, this is it. This book that not only compassionately presents various perspectives on social anxiety, but it also offers a vast array of solutions. It turned out to be more of a "self help" book than I expected in more areas than just shyness. The author had experience in social anxiety, so he really hit home with things he expressed. I was able to finally overcome my social anxiety thanks to this book!"
-Drew
Well, another year is almost over and, looking back, I feel as though my progress has been slow and a cure for this horrible condition as elusive as ever. The social aspect of the holiday season only serves to confirm this feeling. (more…)
For the past year or so, Ive been trying to make a conscience effort to be 100 percent genuine. Rather than allowing society to dictate the person I should be, Im following my instincts and determining the person I want to be, entirely on my own, without any outside influence.
One point of clarification: Society does not dictate who I am as a person, but more accurately, its my warped interpretation system that believes it does. (more…)
After a major problem with my previous web host, I’m back.
Since Dec 21, this site has been very unstable as I’m sure many have noticed. The problems were so severe that I had to transfer everything to another provider using my own backups.
After several stressful days, things are back to normal and the new host should be faster and more stable than the old.
Thanks to everyone for their patience.
Shy, quiet, nice guy, are among the most popular terms that people use to describe me - at least, people whom I know fairly well. The shy-and-quiet description is a given. Thats just who I am, and its not likely to change significantly in the near future.
The nice-guy label is not accurate, however. The truth of the matter is that if people feel Im a nice guy, then its only due to me misrepresenting myself and misleading them. The fact is that Im far from being the nice guy I portray myself as. Im actually a fake - a phony. (more…)
Because of my social anxiety disorder, I have an awful habit of selling out to people. In most social situations, I will almost certainly take a back seat to others. Its not that Im being gracious or anything; I do it because I dont want to upset people. I do it because I want to be liked by everyone. I do it because of my low self-esteem, and because I have no faith in myself or my abilities. Im too willing to agree with others while discounting my own thoughts and ideas. (more…)
Lets face it: Human beings have limitations, both physically and mentally. Regardless of who we are and how talented we might be, we all have finite resources in which to handle everything that life throws at us. When a good portion of my thoughts are squandered on something as powerful, yet meaningless, as the social anxiety thought cycle, there is, sometimes, precious little left over in which to handle day-to-day life. (more…)
The Santa experience was traumatic. 5 years ago, social anxiety ruled my life and, as a result, that incident weighed heavily on my mind for weeks. I couldnt stop thinking about how much of a fool I had made of myself. I kept repeating the entire evening in my mind, analyzing every last detail and beating myself up for things I should, and should not, have done. (more…)
There is nothing in this world that scares me more than having to make a speech or perform in public.
Standing there in that Santa suit, I felt as though I were teetering on the edge of a great abyss - nowhere to run - nowhere to hide - only one way out. I hated myself for being so scared and timid. Why couldnt I just be normal? What was wrong with me? Did other people experience this level of anxiety and dread? (more…)
Volunteering to be Santa, and actually going through with it, were two different things. Although I was as nervous as hell when I agreed to fill in, it was nothing compared to the feeling I had as I slowly donned the old Santa suit. This was real now, and I was committed. Feelings of panic and anxiety swept over me as I prepared for my debut as old St, Nick. (more…)
