The Wall Street Journal online has published an excerpt from Christopher Lane's new book Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became a Sickness. Having not yet had a chance to read the entire book, I am only able to comment on the portion reproduced online. In this excerpt, Dr. Lane discusses how he believes what was once considered ordinary shyness or introversion has been rendered a mental illness (also known as social anxiety disorder or SAD), for which medications are routinely prescribed. Dr. Lane contends that "today many psychiatrists and doctors assert that those who aren't sufficiently outgoing may be mentally ill".
Dr. Lane goes on to argue that the criteria for diagnosis are too inclusive and that "we can grasp quite easily why the illness is so widely diagnosed, but it's harder to say why so many take the diagnosis seriously". In this excerpt Dr. Lane explains that his book contains behind-the-scenes evidence that "conflicts of interest, buried research data, professional ambition, and fierce marketing campaigns have grossly exaggerated social phobia and avoidant personality disorder, turning behavior we recently accepted, and even welcomed, into pathologies needing medical treatment." Dr. Lane claims that his book shows "that we're overdiagnosed and overmedicated, it describes in precise detail how psychiatrists, public relations consultants, and drug companies successfully turned shyness, self-consciousness, and even introspection into major psychiatric disorders".
Although I appreciate Dr. Lane's unique position on this issue, I have difficulty accepting many of his arguments when he repeatedly makes reference to SAD as comparable to shyness or introversion. Although SAD may share some common features with shyness and introversion, it is markedly different with respect to severity and impairment of functioning. SAD severely impacts the quality of daily life and it is this severity that distinguishes normal behavior from the disorder.
It is also unfortunate that Dr. Lane has chosen to make an example of SAD. People who suffer with the disorder are much less likely to seek treatment than those with other mental health concerns. Many suffer for years, believing that their symptoms are simply part of their personality that they need to live with. From my perspective Dr. Lane's arguments come dangerously close to suggesting that this is indeed the case, when the scientific literature clearly shows otherwise. I'm afraid it is apparent that Dr. Lane simply has not spent much time getting to know this disorder personally -- if he had, he would know that it is quite the opposite of behavior that is welcomed or accepted.
I agree. I am a sufferer of moderate social anxiety disorder and all through growing up i was labelled as shy or quiet but as i got to an age where i needed to be in dependent i realised that shy is not my personality- i wanted to be social and confident but i had so much anxiety and negative views. it stopped me going to university, it stopped a lot so a shy character and social anxiety are definately different things.
Thank you for running this series. The difference between shyness, introversion, and social anxiety disorder is overwhelming.
Carl Jung speaks of introversion in terms of how a person gets their energy and how they interact with others. Introverts prefer small groups, the opportunity to reflect on what they are going to say, and big groups of people, which are exhilirating for experts, exhaust introverts. Introverts get their energy from solitude or very being with very small groups.
Shyness seems to have a fear component, be it fear of failure or just a willingness to let others talk and be the listener. However, this fear component is not debilitating and can be overcome.
Social anxiety is debilitating and has root causes that make it difficult to function in the modern world. It seems, from the literature, that disorder is created through upbringing and life experiences.
In my mind, at least, there is a strong link between PTSD and SAD, perhaps even a continuum. My opinion only.
I am an introvert, which has worked very well for me. I have the reputation that when I speak in a meeting what I provide is well thought out and valuable to the discussion.
I have been diagnosed with both SAD and PTSD-recurring trauma. I have physical and emotional abuse in my past as well as Vietnam and being a cop for 30 years.
I am also a lecturing professor at a large university. I still get the nervous butterflies right before starting a lecture in a big group of undergraduates or a discussion in a small graduate group. So, is this normal, shyness, introversion, or SAD? Heck if I know. I go with normal.
Thanks for letting me ramble. Again, I really appreciate your challenging Mr. Lane’s assumptions.
I am sure my son has SAD. And I agree with you, it is debilitating. He graduated from college with an English degree, but is unable to get a job. He went to job fairs at college but was so frightened he couldn’t function. When he failed at the job fair, he had self loathing. This was further reinforced by his father who thought he was just being lazy when he was not able to get a job after graduating. He does not know how to start a conversation. He wants a relationship so bad, but is too afraid to talk to anybody. I believe there is a vast difference between being shy and introverted and having SAD. I believe that I am shy, but I have been able to function in society, I am succussful at my job and have a small group of friends. My son on the other hand, is not able to get a job in his field and has no friends, believes he will never get married and have children. His out look on life is dismall