I’ve been checking out self-help materials for people with social anxiety and I’ve stumbled upon this shyness and social anxiety workbook created by Martin M. Antony and Richard P. Swinson. It seems like a solid workbook backed by good feedbacks and I find it worth reviewing on my blog.

Personally, I’ve not tried this shyness and social anxiety workbook, as I’ve managed to overcome social anxiety by other means. This review is done based on my best knowledge and research on the workbook.

The Shyness And Social Anxiety Workbook Review

Product Name: The Shyness & Social Anxiety WorkBook
Author: Martin M. Anthony/Richard P. Swinson.
Website: www.Amazon.com
Price: $17.91 Paperback (272 pages)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When it comes to any self-help materials for social anxiety, it has to be developed by experts who are trained and knowledgeable in the area. This social anxiety workbook is authored by Martin M. Anthony and Richard P. Swinson.

Martin M. Anthony is a well-known award-winning researcher whose work centered on cognitive behavior therapy and treating anxiety disorder. He is a professor and chair of the department of psychology at Ryerson University in Canada.

Richard P Swinson is a professor emeritus and has previously held lead the Department Of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the McMaster University in Hamilton.

The workbook itself is developed based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). A popular treatment for anxiety disorders, CBT works by first identifying the thought patterns you’re having in anxiety and suggesting ways to reframe your thoughts to alter your behaviors.

What Can You Expect From The Workbook

You can read all the articles and books about social anxiety and yet it made little difference in your own battle against it. Without taking consistent action or inspecting your thoughts, social anxiety will still be there interrupting various aspects of your life.

This workbook is written in such a ways that it explains social anxiety in depth by using examples that you can easily relate to. It is easy to read and you’ll gain insight into what you’ve been struggling for years. It is packed with stories of individual struggling with social anxiety in daily life.

What truly made this workbook a great help is every section ends with activities that required participation from the reader. There are spaces where you can write down your thoughts accordingly as you work your way through the book.

It has gained mostly positive reviews from readers at Amazon. One social anxiety sufferer who bought the book highlighted how it helps her to regain her self-confidence. One buyer, who’s a therapist has also used this workbook in treating his patients.

Will This Shyness And Social Anxiety Workbook Help You?

Shyness And Social Anxiety Workbook

Again, I have to say that I didn’t use this workbook to overcome my social anxiety disorder. But from what I’ve gained from the preview and feedbacks, I think it’s a useful self-help material for social anxiety.

Overcoming social anxiety requires a huge effort, and consistently taking actions. This workbook helps you to go through your thoughts and reframing them with easy to follow step by step techniques. As with any other techniques, you need to work on it consistently to reap the benefits.

Another way of looking at this is having a therapist on your bookshelf. From my experience, overcoming social anxiety is definitely easier with the right guidance and actionable step. It saves you years of struggle with complicated emotions and fear in social interactions.

Should You Get A Copy Of The Workbook?

Social anxiety disorder can manifest itself differently in individuals. Some people will have no problem in giving a presentation but fear personal conversations. Others would have trouble greeting strangers or dining in public. The level of severity can vary too.

This workbook will never replace any professional counseling or treatment. But it’s a good resource for

  • People who are suffering social anxiety and would like to try self-help solutions.
  • Complementing with existing professional therapy (Do talk to your therapist first)
  • People who are too shy or anxious to see a therapist.
  • A cheaper alternative if treating social anxiety professionally is expensive in your area.
  • Trying out something different if the previous methods that you have tried do not work.
  • Exploring CBT techniques in overcoming social anxiety.

However, you may NOT want to get this workbook if

  • You have already beaten social anxiety disorder.
  • You have no patience in reading books.

My Final Verdict

The shyness and social anxiety workbook is a great help if you’re struggling with social anxiety. I personally would have got one if I have not beaten the disorder yet. Here’s the link to get a preview of the workbook at Amazon. Or if you’re interested in what works for me in overcoming social anxiety, check out this article.

Either way, do not lose hope in battling social anxiety. It can be defeated even if you’ve had it for years.

Have you tried the shyness and social anxiety workbook? Or have other methods work effectively for you? Do share your experience in the comment below.