“For the social phobic, any kind of performance—musical, sporting, public speaking—can be terrifying because failure will reveal the weakness and inadequacy within. This in turn means constantly projecting an image that feels false—an image of confidence, competence, even perfection.” — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
“I smile gently while churning inside and thinking about what I’ve learned is a signature characteristic of the phobic personality: “the need and ability”—as described in the self-help book Your Phobia—“to present a relatively placid, untroubled appearance to others, while… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
“According to recent epidemiological data, the “lifetime incidence” of anxiety disorder is more than 25 percent—which, if true, means that one in four of… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
I wanted to put a human face on anxiety disorders. I thought people who suffer from anxiety might recognize themselves and gain some comfort… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
All the textbooks talk about avoidance as a classic hallmark of anxiety disorder. So you need a therapist who is sympathetic and understanding but… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
During high school, I would purposely lose tennis and squash matches to escape the agony of anxiety that competitive situations would provoke in me. — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
“The truth is that anxiety is at once a function of biology and philosophy, body and mind, instinct and reason, personality and culture. Even… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
It's possible that I would have been better suited to being a penguin keeper. Starting out, I thought being a writer would enable me… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
Generally speaking, the anxiety will pass, which is easy for me to say when I'm not in the middle of an anxiety attack. When… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
I have, since the age of about 2, been a twitchy bundle of phobias, fears, and neuroses. And I have, since the age of… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
When I was 5 and my sister was 3, we went on a family trip, and she ate cheese off the floor at an… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
People who suffer from anxiety are very good at hiding it. That can often be a contributor to the anxiety because the gap between… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
“Studies of the DSM-II found that when two psychiatrists consulted the same patient, they gave the same DSM diagnosis only between 32 and 42… — Scott Stossel Copy Share Image
