Social Phobia: From Shyness to Stage Fright

For years I've known that I've had an extreme social fear. However, finding someone, even a therapist, to understand, is very difficult. No matter how I explained my situation, people just did not get it. I was more surprised that the therapists also seemed mystified and could not help me sufficiently. I gave up and decided that I would not engage in any social activities within my control. It was to embarrassing, humiliating and hurtful. I found this book at the library and while reading it, I felt my world opening up to new possibities and hope. I, as a reader, felt that this author really cared and had a passion for healing people with this condition. The author took his time and defined not just social phobia but other phobias as well. He compared simple shyness with extreme shyness so that the reader could get a clear understanding of the difference. He organized a list of symptoms for each type of anxiety (phobia). He offered a number scale for the reader to participate in inorder to find a general idea of their own condition. He wrote about treatment options that were available at the time that the book was written. Best of all he offered tips on how to find good help within the readers living area. Everyone who has any sort of anxiety (phobia) should definately read this book. You owe it to yourself. It is a life saver.

I have social phobia. I have undergone therapy and drug medication in its treatment. I first was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I read this work as I was coming to better understand the true nature of my disorder. If you'd like to understand what my life has been like, please read this book. Marshall's "Social Phobia" is a comprehensive study and explanation of not only the syptoms of Social Phobia, but also a synopsis of current research into the work. Not to suggest that the work is in any way esoteric. Marshall portrays the character of this disorder through numerous case-studies from his work at the Anxiety Clinic at University of Wisconsin - Madison. He first gives a very full picture of how social phobia manifests itself in peoples' lives before going into theories as to why. He is wonderful at telling these peoples' stories. From this starting point, he moves deftly into his academic knowledge of the subject, offering the reader easy access to the professional's knowledge. Marshall's book offers the real-life story of Social Phobia and an objective study of it. I found both of great value; he showed me that there are others out there like me and also helped me to better understand (and thereby recover from) Social Phobia. At the end of the book, he summarizes current treatments of this disorder, offers an Appendix which differentiates Social Phobia from the other Anxiety Disorders, and provides a suggested reading list. Marshall's work has been an enormous help in my own life, and if you wish to understand this disorder, it can be of immense value to you, too.