Childhood Social Anxiety Disorder

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Childhood Social Anxiety Disorder

Jeanette Loftus

children playing Social Anxiety Disorder

When a child has social anxiety they are often afraid that people may say things about them, they get embarrassed by something possibly happening or that they may not act appropriately, they are afraid that they may say the wrong thing to other children, and they also don't like to bring attention to themselves.

A child with social anxiety can feel uncomfortable talking to other kids in their class, public speaking/speaking in front of their peers, going to birthday parties, attending activities, eating in public, going to school or talking on the phone.

Childhood social anxiety disorder or social phobia, is a mental health condition that affects children and adolescents. It is when a child has extreme fears and anxiety in social situations. Children with social anxiety may struggle in everyday social interactions like making friends or participating in activities.

These children tend to worry about making friends at school, being in social situations, around unfamiliar people and how well they are doing during activities. They usually ask "what if" questions and worry about things that are out of their control.

Social anxiety disorder is a type of anxiety disorder is triggered by social situations and it affects a lot of children and adolescents. Children with social anxiety experience intense fear in social situations when they feel they could possibly be judged by others. They may avoid social situations or they may attend social events but struggle with a lot of anxiety and stress.

Childhood social anxiety disorder is a treatable. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve a child's symptoms.

Social Anxiety
- intense anxiety in social situations
- fear of being judged by others
- avoiding social situations
- feeling sad or angry in social settings
- worries about being embarrassed around other people
- throwing tantrums before social events
- asking questions for reassurance about situations
- fear of meeting new people
- exaggerated fears about social situations
- fears reading out loud in class
- freezing up around others
- difficulty ordering food at restaurants
- avoids eye contact around others
- refuses to go to school
- difficulty making friends
- refuses to speak in some situations
- extreme self-consciousness in social settings
- speaks softly around others
- sweating, nausea or blushing around others
- clinging to parents at social events

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a common therapy used for social anxiety disorders for children. It focuses on changing negative thoughts or some behaviors that contribute to their social anxiety. With therapy children can learn different coping skills to manage their anxiety in social situations.

For some children their symptoms may get better and improve as they get older but for some others they could continue to struggle with social anxiety as an adult too. It is important to seek early medical attention if your child is struggling with social anxiety.