Introversion and Social Anxiety

If you feel more recharged after spending the evening at home with a book than you do after a night out with friends, that’s a good indication that you’re an introvert. But if the thought of going to a party with a noisy crowd makes you freeze in fear, you’re probably experiencing something more than just introversion or shyness. Social anxiety is the third most common psychological disorder, after depression and alcoholism. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen joins us to talk about how introversion and social anxiety relate, how to face your anxious fears, and how to be yourself. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. She is the host of the podcast “Savvy Psychologist,” and the author of the book How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critics and Rise Above Social Anxiety.