Shy people who reach for alcohol to help them in social situations may only end up feeling more anxious and tongue-tied, according to research at University of New York at Binghampton. Researcher Stephen A. Lisman found that, contrary to popular belief, two drinks can produce marked impairment in conversational ability, and four drinks tend to seriously restrict it. Worse, those who had imbibed actually showed increased signs of nervousness. Alcohol seems to exaggerate the normal personality. The extrovert becomes more extroverted while the introvert becomes more withdrawn.
People vary widely in their susceptibility to hypnosis.
Some people are just more suggestible than others. If you decide to try hypnotherapy, expect to spend quite a bit of money doing so, as you may have to try a number of different therapists to determine whether it will work for you. Be warned that many far-out claims are made for hypnosis. It is no magic bullet for most people. An older class of antidepressant, called tricyclides, block serotonin receptors in the brain but have more severe side-effects.