"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
My daily commute to work was stressful back then. Normally, it was about an hour, to an hour and a half, of bumper-to-bumper traffic, accidents, aggressive drivers - you name it. However, the morning of the big seminar, I found myself pulling into my parking spot without any recollection of how I got there. Obviously, my mind had been preoccupied with other things. (more…)
As the day of the workshop approached, my anxiety made it impossible to get on with my normal life. 100% of my mental energy was focused on this, seemingly, impossible feat I had yet to perform. Yes, impossible was a good description. No matter how hard I tried to be optimistic and level headed about it, I simply could not see myself getting through this class. (more…)
Most self-help books and tapes have dedicated at least one chapter to relaxation techniques. Breathing exercises, positive self-talk, soothing music, mental imagery, and grounding techniques are among the most popular. Most of these methods are built on solid scientific research, and there is no doubt in my mind that they are an invaluable resource in overcoming fear and anxiety. (more…)
Without question, my biggest fear is, and has always been, [tag]public speaking[/tag]. Certainly, Im stating the obvious here since it ranks among the top fears of the general population, let alone social anxiety sufferers. However, I doubt that the average person can comprehend the stark terror experienced by a socially phobic person.
In my case, public speaking was actually much more than simple fear; it was a terror so unimaginable that to consider giving a speech or presentation was incomprehensible. It simply would not happen. It was beyond the realm of possibility, and yet, I forced myself to endure this torture on several occasions. (more…)
Since leaving my corporate job a few years ago, Ive managed to fine tune my life to the point where Im relatively happy. Looking back, I can see how much the rat-race was harming me, and how anxious and fearful every day was. I doubt that Ill ever regret the decision to resign, even though, at the time, it seemed like I was giving up and letting my social anxiety win. (more…)
Ive always believed that stress is a silent killer, and that my social anxiety creates much more stress than is necessary. Compared to an average, non-SA, person, I have always felt that I torture myself with thoughts and feelings that the average person doesnt have to deal with. Hence, when it comes to my physical health, there may be cause for concern. (more…)
Five years ago, I had no idea what social anxiety disorder was - well, not officially anyway. I knew that there was something wrong with me - I just didnt know that it had a name and that millions of others suffered in the same way. Today, knowing that I have an official disorder, I dont feel as isolated as I did back then. I feel better about myself knowing that I am not some kind of one-in-a-million freak. In fact, I take great comfort in the fact that I am not alone. (more…)
