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Jim Carrey and Barbara Streisand have at least two things in common: they’re both famous entertainers and they’ve both suffered from shyness or social anxiety. According to Professor Martin M. Antony of Ryerson University’s Department of Psychology, social anxiety is normal and more common than we think. Many people feel nervous giving a speech or are anxious in a job interview, a completely normal reaction. In some extreme cases, however, social anxiety can be so severe that it inhibits the ability to develop and maintain social relationships and carry out day-to-day activities. Dr. Antony has co-authored a second edition of his best-selling workbook for people suffering from social anxiety and shyness that’s aimed at reducing fears and improving quality of life. 

“The purpose of the workbook is to help people reduce their social anxiety. I have taken proven strategies that reduce social anxiety and adapted them into an easy-to-use, self-help format,” said Dr. Antony. “The book can be used by anyone having difficulties with social anxiety or shyness, whether it’s severe or something that merely gets in the way sometimes.”

The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook, co-authored with Dr. Richard P. Swinson of McMaster University, teaches basic strategies for overcoming shyness and social anxiety, and offers a comprehensive program of exercises for individuals wishing to undertake a step-by-step self-help program. The 257-page book provides readers with opportunities to explore and examine their fears and create personalized plans for change.

Dr. Antony notes that shyness and social anxiety can range in intensity from fairly mild to completely incapacitating. Some common physical symptoms are dizziness, shaky voice, dry mouth, blurred vision, excessive sweating, and a racing or pounding heart.

“Social anxiety is influenced by many factors including psychological make up, brain chemistry and genetics,” says Dr. Antony, “Anxiety causes people to feel uncomfortable or fearful in social situations where they think they may be judged or evaluated critically by others.”

Social anxiety, much like back pain and high blood pressure, is a chronic problem that comes and goes, but it can be decreased. Dr. Antony suggests two main forms of treatment: cognitive-behavioural therapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioural therapy teaches people to replace anxious thinking with realistic thinking, and uses exposure practices, which involve directly confronting feared situations like public speaking, small talk, dating and job interviewing. 

“Exposure practices compel people to take risks and to be uncomfortable. It’s only when they’re actually willing to feel uncomfortable that they start feeling more comfortable and confident in social situations,” says Dr. Antony. 

Dr. Antony, President-elect of the Canadian Psychological Association, has published 25 books and more than 100 scientific papers and book chapters in the areas of cognitive behavioural therapy and anxiety disorders. His eagerly awaited follow-up book, The Anti-Anxiety Workbook, will be published by Guilford Press in February 2009.

The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook is published by New Harbinger Publications, Inc. and is available in bookstores now. For further information, visit http://www.newharbinger.com 

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