Making a Plan for Change
69of overcoming social anxiety. By continuing to use the strategies described in this book, 
however, your anxiety should continue to improve over time.
Other possible costs of improving.  Overcoming your anxiety may also have an impact 
on other areas of your life. In most cases, the impact will be positive, but there may be 
some costs associated with these changes as well. If you are in a long-term relationship, 
you might ﬁnd that your partner will need time to adjust to the changes you are making. 
For example, as you become more comfortable socializing, you may be out more often 
with friends or coworkers. If your partner is accustomed to having you around most of 
the time, these changes may require some getting used to. It may be helpful to discuss 
the changes that you are making openly with your partner, friends, and family members, 
if appropriate. This will demonstrate to them that you are sensitive to how the improve -
ments in your social anxiety may affect them.
Can you think of other possible costs of overcoming your social anxiety, shyness, or 
performance-related fears? If so, record them in the following space.
Beneﬁts of Overcoming Your Social Anxiety
Fortunately, there are also beneﬁts of overcoming your social anxiety. As we men -
tioned in the last section, the costs of overcoming your anxiety are usually just short-
term inconveniences. On the other hand, the beneﬁts of change tend to be much more 
long lasting. What this book challenges you to do is to decide whether you are willing to 
tolerate some short-term pain, to achieve long-term gains. Examples of potential beneﬁts 
of overcoming your shyness and social anxiety include the following: