Be Yourself: Overcoming Social Anxiety: ISBN 978-1-6782-0788-5 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0789-2
Pennsylvania School Library Association (PSLA), August 28, 2024
Issued as a single volume, Be Yourself: Overcoming Social Anxiety by Carla Mooney offers a substantial overview of the significance of feeling comfortable socially and the inability to attain that comfort. Illustrated with stock photographs of young people and captions as well as textboxes, this slim book breaks down the crippling effects of social anxiety and provides explanations of different therapeutic approaches and examples of some coping mechanisms. The self-help book uses anecdotal cases of young people who suffer from this mental illness and how they learned to work through their anxiety. The endpages include help references and an index. Many students today will benefit from the information found in this book. THOUGHTS: In this post-pandemic and social media saturated society, young people will benefit from this short informational text. I think the sections on social skills and description of group therapy may be able to be implemented into social/emotional lessons. The anecdotes can be shared and discussed.
Be Yourself: Overcoming Social Anxiety: ISBN 978-1-6782-0788-5 / eBook: 978-1-6782-0789-2
Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2024
A basic introduction to social anxiety, including its symptoms, coping mechanisms, and treatments.
Mooney uses interviews and excerpts from articles, research papers, and personal essays by experts to look at the basics of social anxiety. She also includes personal accounts from teens and 20-somethings from varied backgrounds to provide real-life examples of social anxiety’s effects and treatments. In discussing the pervasiveness of social anxiety, the author also seeks to define what separates this chronic mental health condition from natural nervousness and introverted tendencies. Through multiple sources, readers will learn about the ways social anxiety interferes with daily life, interrupts personal and professional relationships, and causes significant physical symptoms. In a matter-of-fact tone, the text discusses factors that contribute to social anxiety, including genetics and trauma, along with potential treatment options ranging from medication and lifestyle changes to therapy. The coverage of common medications and their possible side effects is a particularly nice touch. Educators and readers looking for more information may find the suggestions for further reading and obtaining help useful. While many young people may be interested in the personal stories and expert insights, the rest of the text borders on the sterile and repetitive, making it more useful as a resource to dip into than one to read cover to cover. Stock images depict a diverse range of young people.
Concise, useful, and thorough but weakened by dry writing. (source notes, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)