Social Phobia: From Shyness To Stage Fright [Paperback]

John D. Marshall (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0465078966 | ISBN-13: 978-0465078967 | Publication Date: May 19, 1995

Everyone feels shy or nervous occasionally, but for millions of Americans even signing a check or eating a sandwich in public evokes enormous anxiety, often leading these people to withdraw entirely from social contact. Long neglected by psychologists, social phobia has now been dubbed the ”disorder of the decade.” This important book, with its moving case histories, proves that this cruel condition need not doom a person to a life sentence of loneliness and despair. In his ten years of practice in anxiety disorders clinic, John R. Marshall has been a pioneer in recognizing and treating social phobia. Now he presents a vivid portrait of the disorder in all its many manifestations, from a paralyzing fear of eye contact to fear of shopping.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

General psychiatrist Marshall began counseling anxiety disorder patients in the mid-1980s. At that time, anxiety disorders were emerging as psychiatric conditions in their own right rather than symptoms of other disorders. Marshall's particular interest here is in social phobics (i.e., those whose lives are controlled by intense and abiding fears of social interaction). Combining theory, research findings, and clinical expertise with examples from the lives of socially phobic people, Marshall presents a very readable overview of the topic. He explains a wide spectrum of social phobias, including the fear of eating in public and imagined body ugliness. The appendix discusses other anxiety disorders. Recommended for public and academic libraries.
Carol R. Nelson, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Social phobia is shyness, broadly speaking. But the disorder can also manifest itself as the cause of alcoholism (alcohol eases the pain of social interaction), eating disorders, and an obsessive concern with body partsthe feeling, say, that one's breasts or eyes or penis are inordinately large and that all the world is watching. Marshall, a professor of psychiatry, first explores what may be the primitive origins of social phobia: the need for some members of a group to seem retiring in order to survive. Then he discusses cases: the physically powerful man who can barely bring himself to speak; the ardent feminist who cannot, physically, assert herself; and the actress who panics before a performance. More universally, still, Marshall examines those seemingly ordinary, but often crippling, cases of people who are afraid to give oral presentations, talk to supervisors, or ask for datesor even make left turns, because pausing at a stoplight causes the drivers behind to be delayed and brings the socially phobic driver under an imagined scrutiny. The happy news is that social phobia can be successfully treated most of the time, with cognitive and exposure therapies; however, the most effective treatments involve drugs such as the beta blockers, monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, and, of course, Prozac. A thoughtful new approach to an eternal bedevilment. John Mort --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (May 19, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465078966
• ISBN-13: 978-0465078967
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive Study of Social Phobia, February 19, 2000

By 

William T. Walter "Bill W" (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Social Phobia: From Shyness To Stage Fright (Paperback)

I have social phobia. I have undergone therapy and drug medication in its treatment. I first was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I read this work as I was coming to better understand the true nature of my disorder. If you'd like to understand what my life has been like, please read this book. Marshall's "Social Phobia" is a comprehensive study and explanation of not only the syptoms of Social Phobia, but also a synopsis of current research into the work. Not to suggest that the work is in any way esoteric. Marshall portrays the character of this disorder through numerous case-studies from his work at the Anxiety Clinic at University of Wisconsin - Madison. He first gives a very full picture of how social phobia manifests itself in peoples' lives before going into theories as to why. He is wonderful at telling these peoples' stories. From this starting point, he moves deftly into his academic knowledge of the subject, offering the reader easy access to the professional's knowledge. Marshall's book offers the real-life story of Social Phobia and an objective study of it. I found both of great value; he showed me that there are others out there like me and also helped me to better understand (and thereby recover from) Social Phobia. At the end of the book, he summarizes current treatments of this disorder, offers an Appendix which differentiates Social Phobia from the other Anxiety Disorders, and provides a suggested reading list. Marshall's work has been an enormous help in my own life, and if you wish to understand this disorder, it can be of immense value to you, too.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Saver, August 8, 2009

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Juliane Daye - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Social Phobia: From Shyness To Stage Fright (Paperback)

For years I've known that I've had an extreme social fear. However, finding
someone, even a therapist, to understand, is very difficult. No matter how I explained my situation, people just did not get it. I was more surprised that the therapists also seemed mystified and could not help me sufficiently. I gave up and decided that I would not engage in any social activities within my control. It was to embarrassing, humiliating and hurtful.
I found this book at the library and while reading it, I felt my world opening up to new possibities and hope. I, as a reader, felt that this author really cared and had a passion for healing people with this condition. The author took his time and defined not just social phobia but other phobias as well. He compared simple shyness with extreme shyness so that the reader could get a clear understanding of the difference. He organized a list of symptoms for each type of anxiety (phobia). He offered a number scale for the reader to participate in inorder to find a general idea of their own condition. He wrote about treatment options that were available at the time that the book was written. Best of all he offered tips on how to find good help within the readers living area.
Everyone who has any sort of anxiety (phobia) should definately read this book. You owe it to yourself. It is a life saver.