According to Richard Heimberg, PhD, an expert in social phobia
formerly at the State University of New York at Albany (but now
at Temple University), the origins of shyness are similar to
those of social phobia, which is a more serious disorder (Azar,
Beth. "Social-Phobia Treatments May Also Work for Problem Shyness."
APA Monitor. Nov. 1995). Dr. Heimberg describes
social phobia as "shyness gone wild," and states that
it "cuts people off from the good things of life -- social
interaction, love, family." He has researched effective
treatments for social phobia that can eventually be used to cure
shyness. A recent study conducted by Heimberg and psychiatrist
Michael Liebowitz, MD, found that many patients who received
cognitive-behavioral therapy or a specific drug used to treat
depression showed significant improvement. While many of those
who received the drug relapsed, only a small percentage of those
who received cognitive-behavioral therapy did.
For some the treatment is more simple. Exposing oneself to social situations can be effective for many shy people. Some take jobs in which they are forced to interact with other people. The following resources, some which have already been referenced in this article, can help you understand shyness and can also help you find ways to overcome it.
Resources
Managing Social Anxiety Disorder in the Workplace
The Quiet Disorder
Shy and Free
The Shyness Home Page
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Can Shyness Affect Your Career
