Summersdale January to June 2024 Catalogue

5 The Social Anxiety Workbook
Introduction 6
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7 The Social Anxiety Workbook
Introduction 8
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The Social Anxiety Workbook
Practical Tips and Guided Exercises to
Help You Overcome Social Anxiety
Mita Mistry
ISBN: 9781837993369
£12.99
210x148mm
160pp
Paperback
09/05/2024
Rights and Sales Territories: World
Life has plenty of challenges, and it’s normal to feel anxious from time to time. But
when social anxiety starts to affect your day-to-day life, it’s time to take action. This
friendly guide will help you take the steps towards managing your social anxiety
and provide the tools you need to approach every social situation with confidence.
Key Selling Points:
• A practical and easy-to-follow workbook offering actionable advice and
guided exercises to help readers work through their social anxiety.
• Contains diet, exercise, lifestyle and general well-being advice.
• In any given week, one in six adults will experience some form of neurotic
health problem. This book aims to open up the conversation about social
anxiety and help the reader to feel more confident in addressing their feelings.
What does social anxiety
sound, feel and look like?
Social anxiety is a self-perpetuating cycle that begins with negative thoughts
about social situations, leading to self-doubt and fear. This, in turn, influences
your body’s response and the safety behaviours you adopt, such as scrolling on
your phone to avoid eye contact or someone striking up a conversation.
Imagine you’ve been invited to a party where you won’t know many people.
Social Anxiety thoughts and beliefs sound like:
Before the party
I’m rubbish at
I may blush
making conversation.
I’ll get it wrong.
or get sweaty.
What if they think
I’m awkward?
During the party
I sound boring.
They’re talking about me.
After the party
I made a fool
of myself.
I’ll stumble
on my words.
Everyone is looking
at and judging me.
I sounded
cringy.
I’m a failure.
I’m anxious.
I’m not good enough.
I won’t fit in.
I’m blushing and
shaking; they can see.
I can’t think of what to say.
I shouldn’t have gone.
I can’t handle
social situations.
I looked
awkward and
nervous.
Social anxiety feels like: Shortness of breath.
Shaking or trembling.
Racing heart or
palpitations.
A choking feeling.
Tightness in
your chest.
Feeling dizzy
or lightheaded.
Sweating.
Blushing.
Headache.
Feeling sick or
upset stomach.
Hot flushes or
Dry throat
chilling feeling.
and mouth.
Blurred vision.
Lump in throat.
Shaky Numbness, tingling
voice. or muscles tensing.
Even the thought of meeting new people or attending a party can trigger
physical changes in your body.
Social anxiety behaviour looks like:
Cancelling plans.
Staying out of
the limelight.
Sitting near the
exit to escape.
Using social media to
replace real life connection.
Rehearsing
conversations
in advance.
Not speaking up
in groups or classes.
Finding excuses to leave early.
Saying no to invites.
Relying on comfort friends
or family to go to events.
Afraid to ask questions
when unsure.
Not taking part in social activities (avoidance) or engaging in social activities
but relying on safe people or props to make you feel comfortable – like sticking
to your best friend or sitting at the back of the room where no one will see you
(safety behaviours) – are unhelpful and make social anxiety worse.
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s quite a normal part of social anxiety.
MY SOCIAL ANXIETY
What makes you feel anxious? Perhaps it’s a specific situation you go out of
your way to avoid because it fills you with dread or a thought that keeps you up
all night worrying. It could be everyday interactions or meeting certain people
that worry you.
Writing it all down is like a safe space where you can open up to explore your
thoughts and feelings, plus it helps to lighten heavy thoughts, so you have more
head space. Remember, be honest with yourself as best as you can. Here are
some prompts to help you work through anxiety.
Write down any social situations which trigger negative thoughts or fear.
Example: I am anxious of meeting new people and worry about saying something
ridiculous.
Stay Hopeful
Hope is the unshakeable belief
that there is light at the end of the
tunnel, even when all seems lost.
OPRAH WINFREY
As you’ve seen, when social anxiety strikes, it’s a vicious cycle that
can easily spiral out of control, leaving you feeling like you’re sinking
with no hope in sight. When hope is lost, you lose motivation to
change. But the cycle can be broken by learning about your anxiety
and ways to help yourself – you’ve already taken a superb step to
do just that.
When heavy and painful thoughts take over, and you’re struggling
to feel hopeful, even taking one step from this workbook plants a
seed of hope – you’re moving forward. Don’t forget, there is always
hope and it is entirely possible for pain to pass.
Keep building on your progress, even if changes don’t happen
quickly, that’s okay –keep going, they will happen. Be kind and
patient with yourself because we all have good and bad days and
that’s OK, too. Every day is an opportunity for a fresh new start.
By celebrating your wins no matter how small –your confidence will
grow. Keep working towards your ideal outcome, the next pages are
with you every step of the way. You’ve got this!
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