Childhood Social Anxiety Disorder 

Childhood Social Anxiety Disorder 

Jeanette Loftus

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 natural disasters, school work/grades, friends, family, relationships, health 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 approximately 6.8% of children and adolescents in the United States.

Children with social anxiety disorder 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. The most effective treatment for childhood social anxiety disorder is a combination of therapy and medication.

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.