KEY TO SHYNESS AND SOCIAL ANXIETY AND STRESS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE III

SHYNESS AND SOCIAL ANXIETY

Post-reading focus on language (page 64):

Collocations:
To monitor behaviour. Performance/ progress/ outcome/ process.
To absorb cultural values. A way of thinking/ energy/ information/ risk.
To receive credit for success. Achievement/ accomplishment.
To attribute … failure. Success/ blame/significance. to… an outside
cause. Luck/someone’s ability/ experience.
To reframe one‟s mindset. A decision/ a set of principles/
behaviour/choice/problem.
To be exposed to unfamiliar people. Uncomfortable events/
literature/advertising.
To foster modesty. Values/good behaviour/misery/creativity/coping
resources.
To confer mental health benefits.
Rights/privileges/legitimacy/identity/advantage.

Structures (examples from the text):

It only makes sense that…
It only makes sense, then, that social anxiety may also manifest differently in
a digital world.
Given that…
Given that most people with social anxiety and other psychiatric conditions
actually don’t get treatment at all, if you could make this kind of treatment
more widely accessible with a low bar of cost and a low risk of stigma, that
could have a positive effect.
But there’s a threshold at which…
But there’s a threshold at which social anxiety exceeds its evolutionary
function and becomes maladaptive, even debilitating.
Unlike “A” , “B”...
Unlike introverts, who feel energized by time alone, shy people often
desperately want to connect with others.

Rephrasing:
To bear responsibility: to support and endure a responsibility.
To turn inward: to focus on and towards yourself and your interests
To release oneself (from): to express feelings such as anger or worry in
order to get rid of them.

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To reframe one's mindset: frame or express (words or a concept or plan)
differently.
To get/lose one’s bearings: to figure out one's position or situation relative
to one's surroundings.
In both subtle and seismic ways: in a way that is unnoticed (subtle) but
that has a strong effect (seismic)
To find different avenues for expression and different catalysts
(precipitant): to find a choice, a channel, an outlet or way of making
progress towards something, a person or thing that causes a change.
A low bar of cost and low risk of stigma: that will not cause or cost much
stigmatization or criticism.

DICTIONARY WORK (page 65):

Introvert (noun): a quiet person who is more interested in their own
thoughts and feelings than in spending time with other people.
Introverted (adj): an introverted person, behaviour, child, individual, group.
Extrovert (noun): a lively and confident person who enjoys being with other
people.
Extroverted (adj): an extroverted person, behaviour.
Optimist (noun): a person who always expects good things to happen or
things to be successful.
Optimistic (adj): an optimistic person, view, outcome, result, response,
mood. Optimistic + about
Pessimist (noun): a person who always expects bad things to happen.
Pessimistic (adj): thinking that bad things are more likely to happen or
emphasizing the bad part of a situation. Pessimistic + about
Bashful (adj): shy and easily embarrassed.
Coy (adj): shy or pretending to be shy and innocent, especially about love or
sex, sometimes in order to make people more interested in you. A coy
smile/look.
Reserved (adj): (of a person or their character) slow or unwilling to show
feelings or express opinions.
Withdrawn(adj): not wanting to talk to other people; extremely quiet and
shy.
Inhibited (adj): unable to relax or express your feelings in a natural way.
Diffident (adj): not having much confidence in yourself; not wanting to talk
about yourself. A diffident manner/smile.

STRESS

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Post-reading activity - Sentence transformation (page 66)

a) If you aren‟t already paralyzed with stress from reading the financial
news, here‟s a sure way to achieve that grim state. PROVIDED

PROVIDED THAT you aren‟t already paralyzed with stress from

reading financial news, here‟s a sure way to achieve that grim state.

b) We‟ve blamed stress for a wide variety of problems, from slight

memory lapses to full-on dementia. CULPRIT

We‟ve made stress the CULPRIT FOR/OF a wide variety of problems,

from slight memory lapses to full-on dementia.

c) Hans Selye, who laid the foundations of stress since in the 1930‟s
believed so strongly in good stress that he coined a word, „eustress‟,
for it. SUCH

Hans Selye, who laid the foundations of stress science in the 1930´s
had SUCH a strong belief in good stress that he coined a word,
„eustress‟, for it.

d) As soon as the rat‟s brain registers danger, ti pumps itself up on

hormones-first adrenaline, then cortisol. NO SOONER

NO SOONER does the rat‟s brain register danger than it pumps up on

hormones - first adrenaline, then cortisol.

e) For all of the science‟s shortfalls, there‟s animal research that

suggests why something that should lower stress can actually cause
stress if it‟s done in the wrong spirit. DESPITE

DESPITE science‟s shortfalls, there‟s animal research that suggestS

why something thaT should lower stress can actually cause stress if
it‟s done in the wrong spirit.

f) He could not determine his own “workout” schedule, so he didn‟t

perceive it as exercise. Instead, he experienced it as a literal rat race.
RATHER (Use only ONE sentence)

RATHER THAN experiencing it as a workout, he experienced it as a

literal rat race.

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 g) With the market languishing and jobs hemorrhaging and the world
going to hell, too many of us probably feel like that rat in the second
wheel: it‟s hard to convince ourselves we‟re in control of anything.
FACE

IN THE FACE OF a market languishing and jobs hemorrhaging and

the world going to hell, too many of us probably feel like that rat in the
second wheel: it‟s hard to convince ourselves we‟re in control of
anything.

Post-reading focus on language - p. 68 and 69

SHRIVEL SHRINK WILT WITHER DWINDLE

(UP)

leaves X X x
plants X X X

enthusiasm X X

energy X

savings X X X

clothes X

population X X

resources X X X

flowers X X

courage X

love X X

unwatered X X
roses

Answer the following questions:

1. What has happened to sb's fortune if it has dwindled away?

It has lessened gradually but substantially.
2. What has happened to a river which has dwindled to a tickle?
The river‟s flow has become smaller and it flows slowly.
3. What happens to a company's staff if it begins to shrink?

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 There are fewer workers in the company.
4. What can inflation do to the buying power of the dollar?
Inflation can reduce (shrink) the buying power of the dollar.
5. What can a heat wave do to the grapes in a vineyard?
The grapes in a vineyard may shrivel because of a heat wave.
6. Why would you worry if your shirt shrinks?
You would worry because it would probably not fit you anymore.
7. Is it good news if a treatment shrinks a tumor?
Yes, because it means the tumor is becoming smaller.
8. What happens to sb’s enthusiasm if it shrivels as a project wears
on?
It starts disappearing.
9. What will probably happen to a project or scheme if it has been
predicted that it will wither like a death flower?
It will slowly lose importance and gradually disappear.

Focus on Language - Questions page 70

1) What kind of things can prey on a person’s mind if they are

under stress?
Prey on a person’s mind = to make someone worry, to be constantly on
someone's mind.
Worries or anxiety related to a problem or difficult situation.

2) What noun would you combine with the word niggling to suggest
something continues to worry a person even though they refuse
to think about it?
a niggling problem/doubt/fear/worry/suspicion

3) On what grounds would you attribute a specific state of mind to

the stresses and strains of life?
On the grounds that stress-ridden people are overwhelmed by the
circumstances of their lives.

4) What are common or frequent stressors in your life?

Stressor = a stimulus that causes stress. Personal answer.

5) How could you tell someone is stress-ridden?

Because they are jumpy or snappy. Other answers are possible.

6) What can be stress-ridden?

A stress-ridden life/profession

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 7) What can be good examples of efficacious stress relievers?
Physical activity; social bonding, etc.

8) In what circumstances would you be a bundle of nerves? And a

nervous wreck? Personal answer.

9) What are the implications of saying that someone is at the end

of their tether?
It would mean that someone has no patience, endurance or strength
left. Being worn out, exhausted, exasperated.

10) Is is the same to be stressed out as to be burnt out?

No

11) Which of the following work-related expressions would you

associate with stress? Why?

- To work like a Trojan horse. = to work very hard. It could be

associated with stress or not depending on one’s view.
Personally, I think that working very hard will, in most
cases, cause stress.

- Wear oneself to a shadow = To make oneself exhausted and

anxious through too much work. Yes.

- Burn the candle at both ends = To work or do other things from early
in the morning until late at night and so get very little rest. Same as
#1.

- Burn the midnight oil. = Read or work late into the night. Not
necessarily related to stress. Some people prefer to work
late into the night.

12) What is the specific context in which the expression shell-

shocked is typically used?
The expression “shell-shocked” relates specifically to post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). The term was originally coined after soldiers
returned traumatized from WWI.

Vocabulary work - page 70

To be frazzled: To be extremely tired in a nervous or slightly worried way

after a lot of mental or physical effort. (RELATED TO STRESS)

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E.g: It was a stressful day at work and by 5.00 I was completely frazzled.

To be swamped: If something swamps a person, system, or place, more of it

arrives than can be easily dealt with. (RELATED TO STRESS)
E.g: I'm swamped with work at the moment.

To be jumpy: (of a person) to be anxious and uneasy. (RELATED TO

STRESS)
E.g: He was tired and jumpy.

To have one’s hair standing on end: To cause someone to be very

frightened. (RELATED TO FEARS AND PHOBIAS)
E.g: The ghost story made our hair stand on end.

To give sb the creeps: To give someone a feeling of uneasiness or mild

fright. (RELATED TO FEARS AND PHOBIAS)
E.g: Walking through the graveyard late at night really gives me the creeps.

The stresses and strains of life - (RELATED TO STRESS)

Holidays help people (to) cope with the stresses and strains of life.

To juggle a job with family and kids - (RELATED TO STRESS)

To shrug one’s shoulders: To show indecision or indifference. (NOT

RELATED TO STRESS)
E.g: When I asked her if she minded staying home, she just shrugged her
shoulders.

To bury your head in your arms/sth: To cover or hide your face with
something, for example to avoid looking at someone. (NOT RELATED TO
STRESS)
E.g: She buried her face in her hands with embarrassment.

To bear/have/hold/harbor a grudge: To maintain resentment or anger

against someone for a past offense. (RELATED TO ANGER)
E.g: They held up my claim for months, but I won't bear a grudge against
them.

To be snappy: To be annoyed and irritable, inclined to speak in an angry,

sharp way. (RELATED TO ANGER)
E.g: She was a bit snappy with me this morning.

Page 72:

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Statements:
1. Your blood pressure increases because your heart is pumping extra
blood, oxygen and sugar to your organs. TRUE
2. Your blood vessels expand so as to prevent blockages in the
circulation of blood. FALSE
3. Under stress, your body cannot extract the nourishment it needs due
to the sharp increase in sugar supplies. FALSE
4. Weight gain is a direct result of stomach acidity problems. FALSE
5. The opposite of chest breathing is diaphragmatic breathing. TRUE
6. Internal damage may result from perspiring excessively. FALSE
7. There is a link between higher blood sugar levels and anti-aging
growth hormones. FALSE
8. Adrenalin is the most important stress-related hormone. FALSE
9. There is a connection between the level of cortisol in the blood and
belly fat. TRUE