How to Be Yourself - by Ellen Hendriksen (Paperback)

About the Book

"Now featuring a brand-new conversation with Susan Cain"--Cover.

Book Synopsis

Picking up where Quiet ended, How to Be Yourself is the best book you'll ever read about how to conquer social anxiety.

"This book is also a groundbreaking road map to finally being your true, authentic self." --Susan Cain, New York Times, USA Today and nationally bestselling author of Quiet

Up to 40% of people consider themselves shy. You might say you're introverted or awkward, or that you're fine around friends but just can't speak up in a meeting or at a party. Maybe you're usually confident but have recently moved or started a new job, only to feel isolated and unsure.

If you get nervous in social situations--meeting your partner's friends, public speaking, standing awkwardly in the elevator with your boss--you've probably been told, "Just be yourself!" But that's easier said than done--especially if you're prone to social anxiety.

Weaving together cutting-edge science, concrete tips, and the compelling stories of real people who have risen above their social anxiety, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen proposes a groundbreaking idea: you already have everything you need to succeed in any unfamiliar social situation. As someone who lives with social anxiety, Dr. Hendriksen has devoted her career to helping her clients overcome the same obstacles she has. With familiarity, humor, and authority, Dr. Hendriksen takes the reader through the roots of social anxiety and why it endures, how we can rewire our brains through our behavior, and--at long last--exactly how to quiet your Inner Critic, the pesky voice that whispers, "Everyone will judge you." Using her techniques to develop confidence, think through the buzz of anxiety, and feel comfortable in any situation, you can finally be your true, authentic self.

Review Quotes

"'Just be yourself!' You've likely heard this advice and thought 'But how?' Ellen Hendriksen's How to Be Yourself is for the millions of Americans who consider themselves quiet, shy, introverted, or socially anxious. Through clear, engaging storytelling, she takes readers on an inspiring journey: from how social anxiety gets wired into our brains to how you can learn to live a life without fear. This book is also a groundbreaking roadmap to finally being your true, authentic self." --Susan Cain, New York Times, USA Today and nationally bestselling author of Quiet

"Ever been frozen at a cocktail party? Panicked before a work presentation? I've spent a lot of time speaking to large crowds and walking into rooms full of strangers, and it's not always easy. How to Be Yourself will let you rest easy knowing that your anxiety is completely normal. As a clinical psychologist, Ellen has spent years helping patients conquer insecurities. With her help, you can go from asking yourself, 'Why can't I do this?' to knowing 'I can do it.'" --Mignon Fogarty, New York Times bestselling author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

"HOW TO BE YOURSELF is terrific. It puts the tools of cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety firmly in the hands of those who can benefit the most from them and does so in a manner that is at once extremely engaging and highly therapeutic. Ellen Hendriksen makes it clear what needs to be done to manage social anxiety rather than to be controlled by it and lays it out in the most down-to-earth and from-the-heart fashion. The millions of people who struggle with social anxiety will be all the better for reading this book." --Richard G. Heimberg, Ph.D., Director of the AdultAnxiety Clinic of Temple at Temple University

"Ellen Hendriksen is the real deal. This book cuts through the noise to help you overcome those big, dark anxieties and doubts that hold you back so you can live your best life." --Lewis Howes, New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness

"In a friendly and accessible voice, Dr. Hendriksen teases apart introversion and social anxiety, explains the differences, and provides concrete suggestions that will help introverts who suffer from social anxiety find their way past the fear to a happy and fulfilled introverted life." --Sophia Dembling, author of The Introvert's Way and Introverts in Love

About the Author

Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist who helps millions calm their anxiety and be their authentic selves through her award-winning podcast, Savvy Psychologist, and through Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD). Ellen's scientifically-based, zero-judgment approach is regularly featured in Psychology Today, Scientific American, The Huffington Post, Susan Cain's Quiet Revolution, and many other media outlets. Savvy Psychologist, which has been downloaded over 5 million times, was picked as a Best New Podcast of 2014 on iTunes and was Otto Radio's Best Healthcare Podcast of 2016. Ellen earned her Ph.D. at UCLA and completed her training at Harvard Medical School. She lives in the Boston area with her family.