people. It is unlikely that they will make such harsh judgments of you, even if they do 
notice that you’re anxious.
A third strategy for shifting perspectives is to ask yourself how someone who isn’t 
anxious might interpret the situation you fear. For example, if you believe that it’s impor -
tant to avoid parties if there is any risk at all of looking anxious, you can ask yourself 
how someone who isn’t anxious might view that situation. You can even imagine how 
a particular person (for example, a friend, relative, spouse, or therapist) might view the 
situation.
To summarize, shifting your perspectives involves asking yourself three types of 
questions:
UÊWhat might I say to a close friend or relative who was having the same 
thought as me?
UÊHow might I view someone else who was exhibiting the same behavior as 
me (shaking, sweating, making a mistake, and so on)?
UÊHow might someone without an anxiety problem view this situation?