Shyness & Love covers the only major study conducted to date on social anxiety disorder as it is manifested in informal, unstructured, male/female dating and courtship situations. It focuses on the causes—both biomedical as well as situational—of “love-shyness” and the consequences for those afflicted with it. Gilmartin also discusses promising treatment modalities and what schools and communities can do to prevent severe love-shyness from developing in the first place. Shyness & Love examines the early family life as well as the peer group interactions of love-shy men. The book provides many statistical comparisons between the sampled love-shys and a comparison group of non-love-shy males of normal (but not superior) social self-confidence levels. These statistical comparisons allow for some informed speculations regarding the numerous interacting causes that underlie social phobia in informal, unstructured, heterosexual social situations. These statistical comparisons also provide the reader with some powerful suggestions regarding ways the American social structure (e.g., schools, family life, and communities) might be rearranged so that severe and intractable forms of love-shyness would never have an opportunity to develop in growing boys and teenagers in the first place. Since the publication of the first edition of this book, it has been determined that as many as forty percent of men afflicted with love-shyness are simultaneously comorbid for Asperger’s Syndrome, also known as high-functioning autism. As many as half of all love-shy males are comorbid for the “male lesbian syndrome,” sometimes also referred to as the “passive, non-competitive male syndrome.” This second edition contains a new foreword that presents the latest findings in love-shyness research. It is more concise than the original Shyness & Love, yet retains the most significant chapters.

"In his groundbreaking book, Talmer Shockley (himself a love-shy individual) presents a thoroughly accessible and motivating read for those suffering from love-shyness... Pay attention to his words of wisdom. They will help you find the partner that you so richly deserve" - Nick Dubin, author of Asperger's Syndrome and Bullying For many people, romantic and sexual relationships are complex and cause feelings of anxiety. For people who are love-shy, this anxiety is so overwhelming that it can make finding a partner feel like an impossible dream. Although relatively unrecognised, and therefore often undiagnosed, love-shyness is a condition which causes an intense phobia of romantic and sexual situations. This book is designed to help Love-Shys overcome this fear and allow themselves to meet, date, and eventually maintain romantic relationships with members of the opposite sex. A self-confessed Love-Shy, Talmer Shockley explores the condition, its links with Asperger's Syndrome and how it differs from normal shyness. He gives candid advice on how to deal with being love-shy, make dating an enjoyable experience, and survive the “relationship jungle”. While love-shyness is predominately a male problem, it can also affect women, and the book offers tips on relationship success for both sexes. Refreshingly honest and insightful, The Love-Shy Survival Guide provides essential advice for love-shy people wanting to overcome their anxiety and form successful romantic relationships.

Penny Drummond aspires to be a journalist. A good one. A Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. In the meantime, she's honing her journalistic skills on the East Glendale Secondary College Gazette. When she discovers a boy at her school is posting anonymous messages on loveshy.com, Penny believes she has found just the story that will help make her name. Her mission: find him, fix him, feature-article him. Next stop: Pulitzer Prize. But what will become of her 'journey of the soul' article if the love-shy boy is not who she expects? And what happens when Penny finds that her soul might be in need of a little attention as well? Love-Shy is a lively, entertaining and warm-hearted romantic comedy filled with serious secrets, ambitious plans, awkward moments and unexpected friendships - funny and engaging to the very last page. 'Funny and warm and irreverent and chock-full of sass ... Lili Wilkinson creates utterly realistic and recognisable worlds, where everything is just a bit funnier, quippier and more colourful than in real life.' Leanne Hall, author of This Is Shyness

This perceptive and sensitive guide will help socially inhibited men and women overcome the barriers that prevent them from forming satisfying and loving relationships, complete with a practical overview of available treatments and helpful questionnaires to objectively determ...

What if he thinks I’m not good looking enough? What if she thinks I’m boring? What if I can’t think of anythingto talk about? When it comes to dating, most people have had these thoughts and fears at some point. The truth is that going on a date can be downright nerve-wracking—and if you suffer from shyness or social anxiety, it is especially so. So how can you stay calm, cool, and collected as you set out on the search for the perfect mate? Single, Shy, and Looking for Love presents mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based techniques from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help shy singles like you get “in the game,” cope with the anxiety and fear that can arise on a date, and go on to create long-lasting, intimate relationships. By learning to stay focused in the present moment, you’ll arm yourself against the catastrophic thoughts that cause you to buckle under pressure. And by connecting with your own core values, you’ll gain a greater understanding of yourself and what you ultimately want in a romantic partner. Confidence is often considered one of the most attractive qualities a man or woman can have, and social confidence will take you far—not only in love, but in life as well. If you’re ready to stop being a wallflower and start putting yourself out there, this book will give you the skills you need to get back in the dating game and find the love you deserve.

Can you find real love when you've always got your head in the clouds? Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start. Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous--and it turns out he has a very different vision for the property's future. Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.

Willow is shy. VERY shy. Her home is in an abandoned mailbox, and she'd rather stay put. Outside kids scream and soccer balls collide, trees look like monsters, and rain is noisy in a scary kind of way. It's much nicer to stay inside, drawing. But then a young boy drops a letter in Willow's mailbox: it's a note to the moon asking for a special favor. Willow knows that if she doesn't brave the world outside, the letter will never be delivered, and the boy will be heartbroken. Should she try? Can she? Cat Min delivers a breathtakingly illustrated story about shyness, the power of empathy, and what it means to make a friend.