W. Ray Crozier - Coping with Shyness and Social Phobia

An invaluable resource for anyone who is troubled by shyness or social anxiety and who wants to know what to do about it. As well as being a self-help guide in its own right it also answers questions that sufferers often ask about what types of treatment are available and how to choose the best treatment approach. The review of Internet sites relating to professional organizations and anxiety groups provided is an excellent starting point.

Robert J. Edelman, Chartered Clinical, Forensic, and Health Psychologist and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society

Written by internationally recognized experts, this book summarises much of what is known about social anxiety and outlines the various treatment options. Illustrated with numerous case examples. Highly recommended for sufferers, their families, and professionals.

David M. Clark, Professor of Psychology, Kings College London

In Coping with Shyness and Social Phobia, Ray Crozier and Lynn Alden provide an intelligent, up-to-date, and sensitive look at these two common but highly misunderstood emotional conditions. Going beyond just being providers of information, Crozier and Alden combine their many years of academic and clinical experience to offer a variety of strategies for overcoming shyness and social phobia that individuals will be able to integrate into their everyday living experiences to enhance the quality of their lives and the lives of those they know and love. Individuals who know the pains and problems of shyness and social phobia are fortunate to have as a source of social support the sense of dedication and compassion Crozier and Alden offer in this wonderful book.

Bernardo J. Carducci, Director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, US

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE COPING WITH SERIES

Series Editor: Steven Jones, University of Lancaster

Coping with Bipolar Disorder: A Guide to Living with Manic Depression

Steven Jones, Peter Hayward and Dominic Lam

ISBN 9781851682997

Coping with Schizophrenia: A Guide for Patients, Families and Caregivers

Steven Jones and Peter Hayward

ISBN 9781851683444

Coping with an Anxious or Depressed Child: A Guide for Parents

Sam Cartwright-Hatton

ISBN 9781851684823

Coping with Fears and Phobias: A step-by-step Guide to understanding and facing your anxieties

Warren Mansell

ISBN 9781851685141

Coping with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Guide for Patients and their Families

Jan van Niekerk

ISBN 9781851685158

TO ORDER TITLES

All the titles in this series are available direct from the publisher.

Please visit www.oneworld-publications.com to order books online.

A Oneworld Paperback Original

Published by Oneworld Publications 2009
This ebook edition published in 2012

Copyright W. Ray Crozier and Lynn E. Alden 2009

The right of W. Ray Crozier and Lynn E. Alden to be identified as the Authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

All rights reserved
Copyright under Berne Convention
A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781851685165
ebook ISBN 9781780740898

Typeset by Jayvee, Trivandrum, India
Cover design by Mungo Designs

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We are grateful to our families for their support while writing this book: Lynn Alden thanks Raymond and Sarah; Ray Crozier thanks Sandra, John and Beth.

We are grateful to Dr Bernardo J. Carducci, Dr Michael R. Liebowitz, the American Psychiatric Association, The Royal College of Psychiatrists and Taylor & Francis Ltd for granting us permission to reproduce copyright material.

This series is intended to provide clear, accessible, and practical information to individuals with a wide range of psychological disorders, as well as to their friends, relatives and interested professionals. As the causes of emotional distress can be complex, books in this series are not designed purely to detail self-treatment information. Instead, each volume sets out to offer guidance on the relevant, evidence-based psychological approaches that are available for the particular condition under discussion. Where appropriate, suggestions are also given on how to apply particular aspects of those techniques that can be incorporated into self-help approaches. Equally important, readers are offered information on which forms of therapy are likely to be beneficial, enabling sufferers to make informed decisions about treatment options with their referring clinician.

Each book also considers aspects of the disorder that are likely to be relevant to each individuals experience of receiving treatment, including the therapeutic approaches of medical professionals, the nature of diagnosis, and the myths that might surround a particular disorder. General issues that can also affect a sufferers quality of life, such as stigma, isolation, self-care and relationships are also covered in many of the volumes.

The books in this series are not intended to replace therapists, since many individuals will need a personal treatment programme from a qualified clinician. However, each title offers individually tailored strategies, devised by highly experienced practicing clinicians, predominantly based on the latest techniques of cognitive behavioural therapy, which have been shown to be extremely effective in changing the way sufferers think about themselves and their problems. In addition, titles also include a variety of practical features such as rating scales and diary sheets, helpful case studies drawn from real life, and a wide range of up-to-date resources including self-help groups, recommended reading, and useful websites. Consequently, each book provides the necessary materials for sufferers to become active participants in their own care, enabling constructive engagement with clinical professionals when needed and, when appropriate, to take independent action.

Dr Steven Jones

Series Editor

Is this book for you?

What is the book about?

Our starting point is that many of us feel extremely shy or anxious in social situations. We wish that we did not feel like this and we would like to change things so that we wouldnt have to feel like this. We might have tried to change in the past but found that it was hard to do so our fears and concerns seem so ingrained that they are resistant to change.

Perhaps you feel this way about yourself. Or perhaps you see these signs in your husband, wife or partner, your child, or a friend. You wish that you could help them in some way and sense that if you knew something more about these problems you would be better placed to do so. The aim of our book is to provide you with clear and up-to-date information about what is known about social anxieties.

Perhaps you have read about social phobia or social anxiety disorder and wonder what they refer to or how they are different from shyness or lack of self-confidence. Or you read or hear about strong claims being made about cognitive behaviour therapy and wonder if that would be helpful to you or to someone you know. What does it involve? How might it differ from other forms of treatment? Is there any evidence that it is more effective than other treatments?