Shyness and Social Anxiety
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-08-09/shyness-and-social-anxiety
Many of us feel nervous if we have to make a speech in public. But for the more than 40% of Americans who are chronically shy, even ordering food in a restaurant can cause deep anxiety. Their palms sweat, their hearts race, and their faces grow flush. Medical treatment and therapy is widely available for social anxiety, but some argue that shyness is not a sickness. They say shy people listen better and have higher levels of empathy. A look at shyness, its evolutionary basis, and why it might be an asset.
Guests
David Sloan Wilson
Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Binghamton; director of The Evolution Institute;
Dr. Liza Gold
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center
Todd Kashdan
Associate Professor of Psychology and Senior Scientist at George Mason University
Susan Cain
author of the forthcoming book, "Quiet" (2012) and The Power of Introverts blog
Comments
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I have perceived in recent years, and others have recognized in me, characteristic traits of Asperger's syndrome.
I consider it to be one of the variety of ways of being human, not as a defect.
I have a serious complaint that follows from the consequences of the fact that I am contemplative and have noticed some things about our society that suggest a change is absolutely imperative.
I am calling for a change in the rules we live by that would mean an end to extreme poverty AND a limit to human's impacts on the environment such that they do not exceed what most people consider as acceptable (so that the conditions created by humans are consistent with democratic principles).
In a social context, it is normal for a call to be met with some kind of response. There are many ways in which we manifest this call and response behavior.
I am calling for a change that would mean an end to extreme poverty AND sustainable society.
Where is the response?
Tell me where I am wrong.
Or tell me the goals are not important.
Or tell me there is a better way to achieve these goals. (What is it?)
Or do something to put the idea to a wider audience and to manifest the change in reality. (Besides sharing the idea, the short answer as to HOW to bring about this change is, I think, to vote libertarian AND green. Part of the longer answer is to do this and tell others of your commitment to do it and why you've made such a commitment.)
Or LET ME OUT OF HERE! I shouldn't be living in a world where people choose to NOT turn toward a sustainable and more just civilization. It seems that me loosing my sanity in the face of this profoundly important proposal's being allowed to languish to the point that I sacrifice my own life may be a quite natural way for people to become more aware of the proposal.
Natural Law Requires Respect of PUBLIC Property Rights, Too
I was selectively mute when I was 4-5 years old. Therapy and bribery did nothing for me - what ended up working was a slow introduction to speaking to others through my peers (other five year olds vs. a group of adults). Each week during recess, my teacher would hold one more student back to meet in a small group setting until I was comfortable speaking to the entire class. Fast forward 17 years - I gave the college commencement speech in front of 10,000 people at age 22 with no trouble, and now at 26, I now regularly speak in front of groups. I get the occasional blush, but it's a far cry from where I was at age five.
What an interesting debate! I am a fan of Susan Cain's and I have been anxiously debating the release of her book for a few months now because she seems to be the only one who doesn't pathologize something as natural as shyness, and instead provides tips on how to embrace it and find one's niche where one can thrive despite and because of one's shyness and introversion. This was a great conversation, and very helpful to listen to the other guest's idea and callers' experiences as well.
The last person who called mentioned that he has a problem with turning red, and I can relate to that. This is especially embarrassing during job interviews, and because I am so self-aware and overanalytical of even the slightest facial gestures of others, I become more red as I imagine what the other person must be thinking.
Recently at a job interview, I casually mentioned that I am an introvert after the potential employer explained that the job requires a lot of time alone working at a desk. When I said that, he smirked, chuckled, and said, "That's modest of you to admit that." EXCUSE me? Is introversion viewed so negatively in society that I am called "modest" for "admitting" it, as one would think of somebody who admits to a flaw? That made me feel bad, but it propelled me to assertively answer that I am not "admitting" to it because being an introvert is not a bad thing, though it may seem so in a world that is dominated by the tyranny of the extroverted majority; then I went on to say that some of the greatest inventors and writers are introverts. He smirked again and said, "Well, if you're an inventor or a writer, that's great." Which probably meant that unless I can be one of those things, introversion is a flaw. GAH.