Martin M. Antony - The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven, Step-By-Step Techniques for Overcoming Your Fear

Antony and Swinson bring their combined expertise to bear in helping readers understand and reduce their social anxiety. In covering social anxiety from A-Z, they include state-of-the-art information and research-proven strategies for overcoming this often-debilitating problem. This is the first workbook I recommend to my patients with social anxietyits clear and powerful recommendations can help you get more out of life!

Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD, director of the University of North Carolina Anxiety and Stress Disorders Program

Social anxiety and shyness can become so intense that they prevent people from enjoying life. This book is ideal for anyone who wants to learn to be more comfortable around other people. Antony and Swinson have taken proven treatments for social anxiety and adapted them for a nonprofessional audience. The step-by-step strategies described in this book have been shown to be effective, are easy to understand, and are sure to help the reader cope better in social situations. Anyone who experiences significant anxiety when performing or when interacting with other people should read this book!

Aaron T. Beck, MD, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania

This is an excellent resource written by skilled, world-renowned clinicians and researchers in the area of anxiety disorders. Antony and Swinson present the most up-to-date information about social anxiety and its treatment in a way that is clear and, most importantly, that provides step-by-step tools for overcoming this disorder. This is a must-read for persons suffering with social anxiety.

Michelle G. Craske, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles

If you have trouble with social anxiety, you will find this book by Antony and Swinson to be an excellent resource. This highly experienced duo has provided an excellent road map to guide you through your efforts to overcome your anxiety and improve the quality of your life. Based on the tried-and-true methods of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and on the results of many scientific studies, the techniques described in this book will help you feel better when you are with other people or the center of attention. The only thing you have to do is work hard and apply them. Best wishes for your journey along that road.

Richard Heimberg, PhD, Thaddeus L. Bolton Professor of Psychology, and director of the Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple University

This volume, written by a team composed of a psychologist and a psychiatrist, is an outstanding workbook for any individual suffering from social anxiety or shyness and wishing to undertake a structured self-help program to overcome it. The book can be used alone or in conjunction with therapy. The authors are experts in their field and they offer strategies that are solidly grounded in the latest research literature. The workbook format provides readers with the exercises and worksheets they need to do the difficult work required to overcome their shyness and social anxiety.

Jacqueline B. Persons, PhD, director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Science Center in Oakland, CA, and clinical professor in the department of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley

This workbook by Antony and Swinson gives the millions of people whose lives are limited by social fears the hope to control their future. The book is clear, practical, easy to follow, and, above all, based on solid, scientific ground. The sections on troubleshooting are especially valuable to really help fine tune the techniques. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about overcoming their social fears.

Ronald M. Rapee, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology at the Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Antony and Swinson provide practical advice in a highly readable format. This book will be invaluable to people whose social anxiety prevents them from leading full and happy lives.

Murray B. Stein, MD, professor of psychiatry, and director of the Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders Research Program at the University of California, San Diego

If you know you are paying a price by shying away from social encounters, then you dont have to wait until you are ready to step out into the world. Let this book help you get ready. As you absorb the many insights within these pages, this plan will make such impressive sense that youll feel your confidence grow. If you are like my clients who apply these clear tactics, youll soon reap the benefits of your courageous actions.

Reid Wilson, PhD, author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head

Publishers Note

Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted practices. However, the authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of the publication.

The authors, editors, and publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that any drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accordance with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any change in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new or infrequently employed drug.

Some drugs and medical devices presented in this publication may have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for limited use in restricted research settings. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the FDA status of each drug or device planned for use in their clinical practice.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2017 by Martin M. Antony and Richard P. Swinson

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Any Shoup

Acquired by Catharine Meyers

Edited by James Lainsbury

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

This book is dedicated to our grandchildren.

For Parker Power

MMA

For Maggie and Matthew Cummings and Lucy Swinson

RPSContents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

Part 1: Understanding Your Social Anxiety

1. What Are Shyness and Social Anxiety? 7

2. Why Do You Have These Fears? 31

3. Getting to Know Your Social Anxiety 43

Part 2: How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Enjoy Your Life

4. Creating a Plan for Change 73

5. Medications for Social Anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder 101

6. Changing Anxiety-Provoking Thoughts and Expectations 117

7. Preparing to Face Your Fears Through Exposure 153

8. Confronting Feared Social Situations and Feelings 177

9. Coping with Social Anxiety Through Mindfulness and Acceptance 211

10. Communicating More Effectively 231

11. Maintaining Your Improvements and Planning for the Future 259

Recommended Books and Videos 265

Digital Resources: Websites, Online Treatments, Referrals, and Mobile Apps 273