by Vera Sonja Maass (Author)
This powerful book explains the
debilitating effects of social anxiety and the development of the
disorder, emphasizing the need for a resolution of this disorder and
identifying common but unhelpful coping mechanisms as well as true
methods to change and live life unafraid of social situations.
It
is estimated that some 15 million Americans suffer from social anxiety
disorder. For these individuals, parties, sporting events, and even
workplaces or public shopping environments evoke anxiety and fear.
People who suffer from social anxiety disorder―the most common of all
anxiety disorders―fear being scrutinized and judged by others in social
or performance situations. They know their fear is unreasonable, but are
powerless against the anxiety.
This book provides
comprehensive coverage of social anxiety disorder by covering its
history, explaining the symptoms and root causes, and presenting
information on how to make the key changes in thought that can help
sufferers find relief and be more comfortable in the modern world. The
author uses case histories and dialogue in therapeutic settings to
provide a realistic depiction of social anxiety that makes the topic
more relevant and understandable to clinicians, students, and friends
and family members of sufferers who want to help the socially anxious
individual. The emphasis on people's resistance to changing or even
examining the basis of their underlying beliefs illustrates the
importance of this topic to the overall foundation of social anxiety and
the urgency of addressing belief systems in the process of resolution
and recovery.
• Presents a practical, realistic, and
research-based examination of the development and continuation of social
anxiety in individuals
• Provides readers with an understanding of the tangible health risks of social isolation
•
Draws on clinical histories and examples from the community at large to
illustrate various scenarios, document progression of the impairment,
and identify effective steps toward resolution
• Written by an
author with 30 years of experience with clients suffering from anxiety
disorders, many of those coping with social anxiety
