(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) In this episode, a quick look at the book, How to Be Yourself by Ellen Hendrickson, PhD. Welcome to the Anxiety Road podcast. This is the involuntary journey finding treatment options and resources for people that have anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias too. This podcast is treatment agnostic. My name is Gina Haskett. Social anxiety can be a soul-killing experience. You want to give that presentation. You want to go travel.
And you definitely want to go to a Buckwild debauch-level party. And that is B-U-C-K, wild, debauch-level party. Or not. But you want to have the ability to make that choice. People with social anxiety have a built-in security guard that keeps them from doing that.
If you're new here, this is the podcast that looks at the medical, behavioral health, meditation, relaxation, and x equals z unknown, treatment options and resources for those of us that have an anxiety condition or a mental health disorder. As a reminder, I can't buy every book in the world. I want to, but I don't have the space or the budget. So the approach I'm taking is similar to the one that I would employ if I walked into a bookstore. I'll look at the cover.
I'll read a few pages or listen to audio samples. I also try to learn more about the author. Who are they? What is their background? And how do they express themselves when they're not selling a book? And because I don't want to be tracked all over creation, I use the browser DuckDuckGo to stop or reduce tracking cookies. I do other things too, but that's a topic for another time.
The book I want to share with you is called How to Be Yourself by Ellen Hendrickson, Ph.D. and it's geared toward people that have social anxiety or social phobia. Social anxiety is a persistent fear. These folks have a hypercritical view of themselves if they try to speak up, attend events, or be in situations where they're the focus of attention. Some of the symptoms can include blushing, trembling, sweating, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, nausea, and dizziness.
According to the Anxiety Depression Association of America, people with social anxiety tend to have few or no social or romantic relationships. It makes them feel powerless, alone, or even ashamed. Many are terrified that they will be negatively evaluated or that they will embarrass or humiliate themselves. When I went to find information about the author, I visited her website. Dr. Hendrickson is on the faculty of Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.
In addition to the book, she has another book that she has written called How to Be Enough, Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists. She has been interviewed on multiple podcasts and media outlets. So, from what I was able to get from the samples of the book, and I viewed that on the Barnes & Noble's website, it's a fairly easy read with plain language explanations of the problem. There's also a kind of a quiz that helps you figure out if social anxiety resonates with you.
The book provides actionable steps and suggestions on how to deal with it. I also listened to an audiobook sample. Her voice is warm and supportive, with a touch of humor when needed. I almost forgot to mention, Dr. Hendrickson is a fellow traveler on the road. She has her own experience with social anxiety.
So, in terms of resources, if you're just starting out on your educational journey about social anxiety, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a free PDF on the condition and suggestions for treatment. And that would be the ADAA brochure on social anxiety, and you can find it on their website at ADAA.org. Now, there is an app called Insight Timer. They have a lot of meditation and self -help courses.
The Insight Timer has a course by Dr. Hendrickson called Rising Above Social Anxiety. And that will, I believe you have to join as a member, and then if you want to take the course, that's about $30. If you want to find the book, as always in this time of turbulence, let's consciously support our libraries. Check to see if your library has a copy. In the United States, you might find the book at your local bookstore or your local independent bookstore, and certainly online.
There is a version of the book on Audible, and that one is labeled as an Amazon original version of the audiobook. And Barnes & Noble has a copy, and I believe that's where I also read a much larger version of the introduction to the book. So, yes, you can obtain it from those vendors, but there are many more book vendors that you could get the book from.
The bottom line, no book can totally treat a mental health condition, but a good book might support you and give you the information you need to make an informed decision. I think that this could be a very good starting point for those of you who have social anxiety. I'll catch you next time on the Anxiety Road. You can visit anxietyroadpodcast.com for links and other information resources. You can listen, download, or subscribe to the podcast via any of the free podcasting apps out there.
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This podcast is intended for information and education purposes only and nothing in the program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric, or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.