Triumph Over Shyness: Conquering Shyness & Social Anxiety - Hardcover

Stein, Murray B.; Walker, John R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0071374981 ISBN 13: 9780071374989

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 2001

Synopsis

Shyness isn’t just a personality quirk—to some people it means that even a casual social interaction can be a nightmare. Endorsed by The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the primary organization in the U.S. dedicated to the cure of anxiety disorders, this is the only book of its kind to provide a comprehensive psychological and medical approach for sufferers of the debilitating syndrome of acute shyness and social phobia.

Triumph Over Shyness focuses on a range of powerful new treatments that have become available and offer new hope for people with social anxiety. Other features include:

* Guidelines for coping with difficult social situations
* Pros and cons of various kinds of therapy
* Stories of others who have successfully overcome social anxiety
* The use of case histories to illustrate the points of each chapter
* Worksheets and checklists to zero in on problem areas
* Plus a special chapter for parents on how to help their children conquer shyness

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Shyness is exceedingly common, and in its extreme form, manifests itself as a disabling condition known as both social phobia and social anxiety. The number of men and women, spanning a range of ages and walks of life, who suffer from shyness and social anxiety is in the millions and growing. From the tendency to withdraw from unfamiliar people and situations to public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, sports performance anxiety, dating anxiety, to paruresis (the fear of using public bathrooms), a variety of situations exist that can trigger feelings of discomfort. For some persons, the level of discomfort is so high that it prevents them from living life as fully as they would like to.

The good news is that help is available. Whether you, your child, a friend, or a family suffers from anxiety in social situations, this invaluable book, written with great sensitivity­­and a dash of good humor­­can help.

Copublished by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and written by two experts in the field, Triumph Over Shyness gets to the heart of the matter by helping you navigate the terminology and define, recognize, and tackle your shyness head-on. Here you will learn that shyness, like height or eye color, is a heritable trait­­though not influenced exclusively by genes. You will also learn how embarrassment and shame fit into the mix of shyness and anxiety. Discover what shyness and social anxiety look and feel like, where they may be coming from­­and what you can do about them. In addition, you'll find real-life case histories, plus:

• techniques and exercises to help you overcome shyness and social anxiety
• the latest information on medications and treatments, including those for children and adolescents
• ways to improve your relationships, manage physical symptoms, and conquer anxious thoughts
• advice and information on how to help a shy child
• support for the challenges you may face as you confront your fears

. . . plus a variety of resources to draw upon as you work toward your goal. If you choose to triumph over the confines of shyness, this book will help you break free.

"A roadmap to the diagnosis and treatment of social anxiety disorder ... an owner's guide to the skillful management of social anxiety."
­­John S. March, MD, MPH, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke Child and Family Study Center

ARE YOU TOO SOCIALLY ANXIOUS?

To answer this question, ask yourself:

• Does my anxiety in social situations make me feel nervous or uncomfortable a lot of the time?
• Does it interfere with things I want to do now or in the foreseeable future?
• Does it keep me from having fun?
• Does it lead me to being alone and lonely?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may have social phobia­­and you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from shyness and social anxiety. Fortunately, help is available­­and you're holding it in your hands. Whether you are concerned about yourself, your child, a friend, or a relative, Triumph Over Shyness will help you understand the nature of the problem and what you can do about it. Written by two experts in the field and endorsed by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, this sensitively written book is filled with helpful case histories, techniques, and exercises to help you manage anxious thoughts and physical symptoms, as well as improve your relationships. Here you will also find the latest information on medications and treatments, and a variety of helpful resources to help you break the bonds of shyness.

You don't have to lose another day. Triumph Over Shyness can ensure that you live your life to the fullest from now on.

About the Author:

Murray B Stein, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and Director of the Anxiety & Traumatic Stress Program at UCSD and at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. His research interests include social phobia, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Dr. Stein has published over 150 articles on these topics in professional journals such as The Lancet and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Dr. Stein lives in San Diego.

John R. Walker, Ph.D., is a registered clinical psychologist and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Program at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Canada. He is also Professor of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba and supervises senior clinical psychology students in their training in treatment of anxiety disorders. He is an editor of Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia: A Comprehensive Guide for the Practitioner and has written chapters on social anxiety disorder and treatment of intense illness worries. Dr. Walker has a special interest in self-help approaches to treatment of anxiety disorders and has completed treatment evaluation studies demonstrating the benefits of self-help materials with panic disorder and social phobia. He lives in Winnipeg.

About this edition

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0071374981
• ISBN 13: 9780071374989
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256