““The first step in overcoming your problem is to acknowledge that what you call shyness is anxiety, a very specific kind of anxiety. As you begin to understand this concept, you will be able to make use of the strategies and techniques I have developed to solve the problem. Remember, to use the word “shy” to describe yourself is to give up control of your life and your ability to improve it. Call yourself “shy,” and that’s the end of the story. Admit you have social anxiety, however, and you are on your way to a more relaxed, fulfilling life in which you are in control. Shyness, after all, means many things to many people. But anxiety is more concrete--I usually describe it as an attitudinal, emotional, behavioral, and physical response to stress, although not necessarily a negative response.””
