Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe : Working Through Social Anxiety

Rating:
Summary: Significant, meaningful, relevant
Review: I like the fact this book for social phobics is written by an ex social phobic who is a psychologist. I also like that the author spent several years talking with hundreds of social phobics to find out our issues and what we need and want to make ourselves better. I think these two factors give this book particular significance, meaningfulness, and relevance.

Rating:
Summary: Big impact on my life
Review: The book showed me the way out. I shook, sweated, blushed and forgot everything all the time. I was humiliated. People shunned me. Alcohol was my only friend. Suicide seemed the only answer. Somehow this book spoke to me. It got me thinking. It got me doing. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Its the best helping book I've read.

Rating:
Summary: Universal
Review: Like everybody else I have experienced anxiety or embarrassment in some social situation at one time or another. But I don't have a serious problem with it. I bought this book because it intrigued me and I was curious. Well, I never expected to identify with it but I did! It explained so much I could relate to and provided such indepth, comprehensive, useful info about universal social experiences. It applies to everyone as they try to overcome their fears to achieve their goals and get satisfaction in their lives. This has the makings of a bestseller.

Rating:
Summary: Makes the incomprehensible understandable
Review: I like how this book looks at my problem from the big picture as well as from the personal level. Besides my fear, I have been living with lots of anger and guilt. The guiltier I feel that I'm not living up to my standards as well as the standards others the angrier and more anxious I feel. This means I'm anxious, guilty, and angry all the time. So addressing my anxiety alone isn't enough. What makes this book exceptional is that it doesn't cover only anxiety as so many other books do but covers anger and guilt (and so much more) because they influence one another. The book shows how these threads are woven together in a complex tapestry so we can unravel them.

Rating:
Summary: Very useful life strategies
Review: Because of my social anxiety I avoid shopping. I feel embarrassed everyone can see my anxiety. When a clerk approaches me my mind always goes blank and I become tongue tied. I know they will think I am nervous because I want to steal something and that humiliates me and makes me even more anxious. With the guidance of this book I am gaining confidence that I will be able to go to stores and malls without fear.

Rating:
Summary: Bowls you over
Review: I attended one of Dr. Dayhoff's seminars on social effectiveness at Boston University. It bowled me over. It was entertaining and very informative. I never guessed Dr. Dayhoff had the same social anxiety I had because she did such a great job. Her new book, Diagonally Parked, is like that seminar. It's casual, conversational, and personally humorous but packs an educational and therapeutic wallop.

Rating:
Summary: How to change your life
Review: Reading this practical and inspiring book was a revelation. I have suffered hopelessly alone for a long time but now I do not have to any longer. This is a road map for changing my life for the better. Now all kinds of wonderful possibilities are opening up for me.

Rating:
Summary: Focus on social effectiveness is on target
Review: I like how this book focuses on the need for social effectiveness training for people with SP. I don't know whether I don't have these skills or they are rusty from lack of use, but I know for sure this kind of help is essential for us SPs to get better. Everything we do requires us to be socially effective. Therapy or drugs alone is not enough. This is an informative and highly useful book I hope all SPs read.

Rating:
Summary: Covers what really impacts your life
Review: I have read so many SA books looking for one which talks about embarrassing and hard to deal with real-life issues like busy bladder, sweating and blushing. Only this book covers these and other intimate and troublesome aspects of a SA's life. I owe the author a debt of gratitude for this. This book is number one with me.

Rating:
Summary: Fosters courage to do the hard things
Review: This book helped me develop the courage to come out of the SP closet. I wanted out despite the fact I was deathly afraid of the consequences of someone finding out I have SP. I "knew" they would find me defective and count me out. But at the same time I didn't want to keep this gut-wrenching secret from everyone because I felt dishonest. I needed to break free and tell someone . This book discussed the pros and cons and told me if I decided to come out, how I should do it. I came out to a friend I trusted and this person didn't disappoint me. Their acceptance of my SP really took some of the pressure off.