Well, I've been suffering from social phobia and select mutism (afraid to talk to certain people) for almost ten years now and have been at least a little shy my whole life. I've wasted too much time worrying and it's time to start making friends and enjoying my life. I got this self book "Beyond Shyness" from the library for the second time. The first time I got it I only did about two writing exercises and did them half assed at that. Needless to say, it didn't help....