Social Courage: Coping and thriving with the reality of social anxiety

Many people walk around with a secret: they experience social anxiety! At the same time, they are bombarded by messages from books, articles, and gurus that lead them to believe that social anxiety is a disease that needs to be cured. Consequently, along with social anxiety, they carry shame — believing that there is something wrong with them that must be fixed before they can live a ‘normal’ life. Often, they are waiting for the magical day when their social anxiety vanishes forever before pursuing their social goals, such as increasing friendships, finding a romantic partner, or advancing in their career. The problem is that social anxiety is normal and, to some degree, it will remain a lifelong companion.

Social Courage presents a step-by-step, structured program for minimising suffering in the face of social anxiety while giving readers the tools to boldly go towards their social goals. It combines strategies from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Compassion-Focused Therapy to form ‘CBT 2.0’, to help readers cope and thrive with anxious thoughts and emotions using practical exercises and case studies.

Whether readers are struggling with social anxiety of phobic proportions or are just held back when it comes to public speaking or meeting a specific social goal, Social Courage presents a path forward while minimising suffering along the way.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Welcome to Social Courage

... Now, let's get to work!

1. Social Anxiety Is Normal. Learn where social anxiety comes from and assess its impact on your life
2. When Normal Anxiety Turns Phobic. Free yourself from the phobic cycle by understanding anxiety's secret rules
3. Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy 2.0How ancient wisdom with a modern approach can benefit you
4. Brain Noise. Core skills for coping with socially anxious thoughts and beliefs
5. Clean vs. Dirty Social Discomfort. How to stop fighting your feelings and move forward with your life
6. Leaving Your Social Comfort Zone. Disregarding the siren call of avoidance
7. Troubleshooting Social Anxiety. Dealing with setbacks and obstacles you may encounter along the way

The Courage to Be Human

Final Thoughts on Social Courage

Acknowledgments

Bibliography and Related Recommended Readings

Index

"Readers who struggle with social anxiety should find Goodman’s clearly explained advice to be usable and appealing."
- Publishers Weekly, magazine article  read the full review

"Do you get nervous meeting new people? Is the thought of making a speech enough to make your heart race and palms sweat? According to American psychologist Dr Eric Goodman, they are just a few examples of social anxiety, an experience that far from being a disease is just part of what makes us human, and ensures we get on smoothly with everyone else. For many of us, though, it can get out of hand to the point that it limits our potential and makes everyday social experiences a nightmare. Goodman says his new book, Social Courage, presents a path forward for everyone who suffers from extreme social anxiety."
- Adelaide Advertiser, newspaper article  read the full review

"Anxiety can make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster. There are a couple of ways to approach a rollercoaster. One is to grip the safety harness for dear life, close your eyes, call yourself a big-baby, and then try to distract yourself by adding up the amount of money you paid for the experience! Not only do you not escape the ride, but you suffer throughout it. The other way is to let go and open up to the fear rather than fight it. You go with the flow-with the fear. This way typically leads to less suffering and maybe even enjoyment, despite the fear."
- Girl.com.au, blog article  read the full review