“Shyness”. We’ve heard this word a lot. Indeed, research shows that 93% of all people have experienced shyness at some point in their lives. What does it really mean to be “shy”? For some, it may mean being quiet, reserved, or timid. For others, shyness is a catch-all word to describe what may at first seem like a personality trait, but is in fact a fear response. Shyness, in fact, pervades their lives and prevents them from doing things they would like to do, such as finding personal fulfillment or achieving career goals. Learning how to overcome shyness is an essential life skill that should be taken seriously. Click here to listen to interviews with real people who have resolved shyness.
Since 1978, in working with thousands of people of all ages who call themselves “shy”, I have come to realize that this word is too general to be of much help in identifying a problem and solving it. The actual response to the stress of interaction is called social anxiety. Social anxiety manifests itself across a broad spectrum of behavior, from mild nervousness to social phobia, in which interaction-related anxiety is extreme, so extreme that a person avoids – sub-consciously or consciously - the specific situations that cause the anxiety.
In reality, shyness is a form of social anxiety. When an individual understands the phenomenon in terms of behavior, cognition, emotion, and physiology, there is more potential to control it versus the abstract generalization of “shyness”. Working with an experienced licensed therapist to overcome your shyness can help you get back to living your life the way you never thought you could.
Your Options- Free Introductory CD
- The book, "Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties" (Simon & Schuster)
- Comprehensive self-therapy audio CD program for social and performance anxiety
- Public Speaking Anxiety: Self Therapy Audio CD Program
- Therapy in Great Neck, New York
- Telephone therapy
- Selective Mutism Seminar on Audio CD
- "Parenting The Selectively Mute Child": Self-therapy Audio CD Program
- "Social Therapy and the Learning Disabled: A seminar on Audio CD
- Free social-ability questionnaire
- Free "Parent Addiction" quiz
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There are many free self diagnostic options at www.social-anxiety.com |
Comprehensive Self-Therapy Audio CD Program Self-Help Audio Program for Shyness, Social and Performance Anxiety.
The Book Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties (Simon & Schuster)
