Updated June 03, 2014.
The following articles were originally posted as blog posts here at About.com. Please note the original dates of publication and that the stories were current as of that date.
Novel "Chameleon" Portrays Teenager's Experience With SAD
(November 9, 2009)
Fifteen-year-old Jordan Taylor Brown knows what it is like to suffer with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Having suffered with the disorder since she was a toddler, Brown has written a fictional account based on her experience with the disorder.
The feelings, thoughts and reactions of the main character are very real to the author.
Interestingly, the publisher chose only to edit the novel for spelling, grammar and punctuation. The feeling was that the flow of the book reflected the thought process of someone with the disorder. Although I have not yet read the novel, I believe that it has the potential to be one of the most interesting and honest accounts that exists about having SAD.
Claudia Schiffer: Modelling Helped Me Overcome Shyness
(November 16, 2009)
Claudia Schiffer was an unlikely candidate to become a model. The stunning beauty once hid in the back row at school, afraid to be the center of attention or have others look at her.
Schiffer describes how traveling and working with a variety of people helped her to overcome her shyness. Over time, she says, she learned how to stop analyzing what other people were thinking and be more confident.
Although a modelling career is not going to be the answer for most people with social anxiety disorder (SAD), there is something to take away from Claudia's story.
Sometimes, having the tools in place to change is not enough. Sometimes what we really need is a challenge and a new set of circumstances.
Donny Osmond wins Dancing With the Stars
(November 30, 2009)
Although I am not a regular viewer of Dancing With the Stars, I have seen enough episodes to know that what the dancers do is not easy.
Throw a bunch of celebrities in the mix who may or may not be quick learners, and you have the makings of a great reality show. A show that Donny Osmond probably would never have dreamed about participating in back in 1994 when he first started having problems with SAD.
Fast forward 15 years and where do we stand? Donny Osmond has not only competed in, but won Dancing With the Stars. Congratulations to a great performer and a shining example of how you should never give up, no matter how difficult things seem at the time.