英语听力精选进阶版 6456（在线收听）

Do you lose sleep when you are invited to parties? I do - and I wonder if I'm part of the estimated 10% of the UK's population who suffer from what's called "social anxiety".

The first clinical guideline on the subject, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence last year, says the disorder is the fear of, or anxiety about, social situations that is out of proportion.

The person who suffers from social anxiety blushes, sweats a lot, is short of breath and is focused on what he thinks are his inadequacies. In my case, I worry that people at a party might notice I'm shy and my family is from a small backward town.

The thought of having to socialise can be in the sufferer's head for months beforehand. A woman interviewed by the BBC, Heather, begins to worry about the Christmas period as early as September. She pays her share of money to the office party even if she plans not to go. Heather says: "I buy it to make sure people don't think I'm tight-fisted, or that I don't like their company."

Social anxiety can affect both men and women. And even people who appear confident and extroverted can have the disorder. Social anxiety recently made headlines when the star of the hit movie "Hunger Games" Jennifer Lawrence spoke about her battle with it.

Some experts recommend cognitive behavioural therapy, which treats the symptoms rather than the causes of anxiety.

My grandmother told me to put an end to this fear of not living up to expectations. She claims to have a miracle cure for social anxiety. She told me: "when you go to a party, imagine everybody there in their underwear, with their bits hanging out. Imagine we have all to go to the toilet. We all wake up in the morning with bad breath and messy hair."

Maybe my granny is right. I should be more relaxed about things and stop thinking everybody is better than me. Who knows, maybe I will realise I am better than I think.

What about you: Do you suffer from social anxiety?

Quiz 测验

1. How many people in the UK suffer from social anxiety?

It's estimated that 10% suffer from the disorder.

2. Why does Heather pay for a party she won't go to?

Because she doesn't want her colleagues to think she is tight-fisted or that she doesn't like them.

3. True or false? Actress Jennifer Lawrence suffers from the disorder, which affects mostly women.

False. The disorder can affect both men and women.

4. Who has bad breath in the morning?

According to the author's grandmother, everybody does.

5. Which expression means a movie is popular?

A 'hit' movie.

Glossary 词汇表

to lose sleep 失眠

social anxiety 社交（引起的）焦虑

clinical guideline 临床指南

a disorder （身心机能的）失调、紊乱

out of proportion 不成比例

to blush 害羞脸红

to sweat 出汗

to be short of breath 喘息急促，气喘吁吁

inadequacy 不足

shy 腼腆的，害羞的

to socialise 社交

tight-fisted 吝啬的，小气的

extroverted （性格）外向的

cognitive behavioural therapy 认知行为疗法

symptoms 症状

not living up to expectations 达不到别人的期望