First off, I don’t write reviews. I don’t have the time. But the audio version of this book has made me such a braver, better person, I felt compelled to add a review so it might help someone else like me. For once, I’m not afraid and I feel like I’m living and not just going through the motions. I chose this book because of the title. I do feel like a fake most of the time. Always saying or acting the way I think others would expect me too. I remember my Mom being hyper aware of how others viewed her and her family and I picked up on that and didn’t even realize. I didn’t know I had social anxiety, but every example in this book sounded like me. I don’t sleep well because I’ll wake up in the middle of the night replaying things I did during the day.
Things I could have done or said better than I did. And then the stress kicks in and the next thing I know I’ve laid awake for two hours pondering something that should have not been given a second thought. This book made me aware of what I was doing and I am falling back asleep quicker than ever before. It also gave me several different tools to help overcome my negative thoughts. And for once, it’s not unrealistic tools that don’t work. For once, they are working. Now when I start to replay a scenario, I think about Ellen’s “movie theatre” scenario. And if that doesn’t work.
I put my inner critic on trial. A bonus was her chapter on “how to make friends.” I’ve always avoided relationships for fear that someone would find out I’m not who I really am. But now I feel compelled to connect with someone on a friendship level. I highly recommend purchasing the audio version of this book. Ellen does a phenomenal job narrating and I honestly feel like I was sitting in her office at times. But instead of paying $$$ for a therapy session, I got so much more by purchasing this book. If you ever feel awkward in any type of social situation, you must read/listen to the book. It’s a game/life changer.
I have always struggled with having a conversation, even with the closest people in my life. Funny enough, the only people I am quite confident talking to are my brother and sister who I have spent a lot of time with. But, yes, I fumble through conversations, trying to speak the right words and in the process sound gibberish.. which makes me more anxious and sweaty and freaked out.
This book has literally pushed me out of my comfort zone and into what I dread the most, conversations. Midway through this book, I walked out of my room and struck a conversation with a student sitting in the lounge. I cared not how awkward I looked. It was the most eye opening, genuine conversation I have ever had in a long, long while.
I can’t wait to meet new people and challenge myself in the very situations that limited me in the past(rather it’s I who limited myself)… As a matter of fact, I came out of it feeling AWESOME! I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who has faced social anxiety in their life for whatever reasons. I would have loved to highlight my reasons for my anxiety now but I am learning as the day goes by. I will update this comment accordingly when I have established those reasons sufficiently.
