Reddit reviews Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe : Working Through Social Anxiety
We found 2 Reddit comments about Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe : Working Through Social Anxiety. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Used Book in Good Condition
I read up quite widely on the web, then got these books:
Overcoming Social Anxiety
Painfully Shy
Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe
I think the first was the most directly useful.
The basic way to treat an anxiety disorder is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. You do two things. One is to challenge the patterns of thought that lead to the anxiety, and the other is to challenge yourself to do the things you are frightened of, a little at a time. Things like these 'flashbacks' are unhelpful ways of thinking, that can cement the idea that you will be humiliated in social situations. The way to deal with them is to refuse to accept them. Think of them as 'your anxiety talking' instead.
On the behavioral side, I worked at it gradually, and in the end I worked up to the worst thing I could imagine doing and then did it. For me, this was taking up Salsa dancing. Just about the hardest thing I've ever done was making myself go through the door the first time, but I wouldn't let myself bottle out. You can only make this stuff work if you're really ready to change, because it takes real willpower, but it's so worth it. My life isn't ruled by fear any more. That's pretty cool :-)
Edit: Markdown oops :-)
Quote goes back way before them. There's a Mick Conway album, and this book in 2000.