Description
Book SynopsisWe''ve all felt occasional pangs of shyness and self-consciousness, but for those suffering with social anxiety disorder, the fear of being scrutinized and criticized can reach disabling proportions. Such was the case for Emily Ford, who shares her firsthand experiences in these pages. Emily''s true story of fear, struggle, and ultimate triumph is sure to resonate with other socially anxious teenagers and young adults. Emily''s frank, often witty, sometimes poignant account of how she negotiated all the obstacles of social anxiety--and eventually overcame them with the help of therapy and hard work--makes for compelling reading. Yet this book is more than just a memoir. Emily''s story is coupled with the latest medical and scientific information about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of social anxiety disorder (or SAD). Readers will find a wealth of solid advice and genuine inspiration here. In engaging, accessible language--and with the help of psychiatrist Michae
Trade Review"With warmth, candor and insight, this highly gifted young writer shares her personal struggle with a serious yet treatable disorder that is often misdiagnosed and grossly misunderstood. Emily takes the reader along on her courageous journey toward recovery, while offering solid information, help and hope to individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder, as well as to family members and friends who want to help."--Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW, Director, The Ross Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, Washington, DC, and author of Triumph Over Fear
"Ford bravely offers an accurate account of the frustrations of Social Anxiety Disorder, and the paths to treatment, including how to navigate the difficulties of the mental health system, how to identify an expert in SAD, and how to make the most of the therapeutic experience. This will be an excellent resource for adolescents, young adults, and their parents."--Dean McKay, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychology, Fordham University
"For anyone who has shouldered the enormous burden of social anxiety disorder, What You Must Think of Me will be a valuable resource. Emily Ford gives her readers a rare glimpse into the tortured world of a young person struggling with SAD-the isolation, the depression, and her eventual triumph over this devastating illness. Her story is one of hope, humor, and an incredible will to survive, and will both inspire and educate readers who will recognize their own struggles within these pages."--Jamie Blyth, author of Fear is No Longer My Reality: How I Overcame Panic and Social Anxiety Disorder- and You Can Too
Table of Contents1. Self-Conscious to the nth Degree ; 2. Moving From Dis-ease to Disease ; 3. Not Just Another Shy Teenager ; 4. First Steps Toward Recovery ; 5. A Long Road Filled With Potholes ; 6. Five Days That Changed My Life ; 7. Making Changes and Sticking to Them ; 8. My Life Today, Your Life Tomorrow
