"Martin described himself as a veritable sprinkler, with sweat pouring from his face, armpits, and entire body. He was so humiliated that he rarely left his apartment during the day and only ventured out at night to do his shopping."
"Around that time, I had learned about a technique developed by the legendary New York psychologist Albert Ellis for people struggling with social anxiety and shame. It's called a shame-attacking exercise: a deliberate attempt to do something super-embarrassing in public in order to discover that the feared consequences never materialize."
"I explained that money wasn't the issue; courage was. I said, 'If you want me to treat you, you'll have to agree to do exercises that will challenge your fears.'"
Martin, a young man suffering from severe social anxiety and excessive sweating, believed he was hopeless in dating. Despite his self-perception, he was considered very attractive. A psychologist introduced him to shame-attacking exercises, which involve intentionally facing embarrassing situations to dispel fears. The psychologist emphasized that the treatment required courage rather than financial resources, indicating that overcoming social anxiety is a process of confronting and challenging one's fears.
Read at Psychology Today
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