The E-book begins by highlighting the overstimulating nature of our world and how people are often judged more on their achievements and capabilities than their character. This leads to a discussion on why many people suffer from anxiety disorders.
 
The focus then shifts to Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), previously known as social phobia. SAD is characterized by a fear of situations where a person might be harshly judged, ridiculed, or humiliated. These fears are often not based in reality, and despite being aware of this, individuals with SAD are unable to break the feedback loop that fuels their anxiety.
 
The book provides statistics on SAD, noting that it is most prevalent in the US and more affluent countries. It’s estimated that 7% of Americans have social anxiety in any given year and 12% over a lifetime.
 
The cause of SAD is unknown, but it’s believed to be genetic, possibly inherited, and influenced by environmental factors. Individuals with a parent who has SAD are 2-6 times more likely to have the disorder.
 
The book discusses the correlation between SAD and avoidant personality traits, internalization of feelings, fear of judgment, and high-performance expectations such as public speaking.
 
The author also lists various situations that may trigger SAD, including eating in public, attending social functions, entering a room full of people, public performances, reading aloud, presenting to a group, being in crowded places, meeting or interacting with new people, job interviews, performance reviews, and others.
 
The book promises to further explore different aspects of SAD, including signs and symptoms, the role of nature and nurture in SAD, SAD in the family, treatment of SAD, and prevention strategies.
The author emphasizes that symptoms of SAD vary from person to person and that one does not need to experience all symptoms to meet the criteria for SAD. The level of impairment in different areas of life is an important indicator of the severity of the disorder.
 
The book ends with a note on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version V (DSM-V) definition of SAD, which includes a persistent fear of social or performance situations, exposure to the feared situation provoking anxiety, and the person recognizing that this fear is unreasonable or excessive.