Simple shyness or other disorders in children are often mistaken for social anxiety disorder.Social anxiety disorder can be disabling.The hallmark of intense fear and avoidance of social situations and performance activities is that it can interfere with your child's daily routine, school, and relationships.It is common for social anxiety disorder to show up in children and can go undetected for years.It will be easier for you to help your child early if you know the physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of this disorder.
Step 1: Speak to your child's teachers.
Children with social anxiety disorder are often unable to participate in class.Discuss your child's in-school behaviors with their teachers since you can't observe how they act at school.If your child does not participate in class by asking or answering questions, reading aloud or writing on the board, it may be a problem with social anxiety.Reading or being called on causes them distress, which may look like blushing, crying, tantrums, refusal, or poor performance despite ability.They are removed from peers at school because they sit alone in the cafeteria or library.
Step 2: Listen to what your child has to say.
Children with socialphobia are afraid of criticism and worried about humiliation or embarrassment.Young children are unable to tell you that they have fearful thoughts, but statements like these could be signs of social anxiety.
Step 3: Observe how your child interacts with others.
Children of all ages are maturing.It's possible that your child is afraid of being around other people or in a public place.Take your child to play dates with friends, and watch how they engage with others.If a parent is not present, a child may refuse to go on a play date or ask their parent to be always available.Being clingy to others.Refusing to initiate conversations, invite friends to hang out, or call, text or e-mail with others in their age group.Older children may stay at home on weekends.
Step 4: Look at how your child speaks.
A child who is anxious to speak may be unable to carry on a conversation.They may mumble or speak softly when they do.Children who are socially anxious avoid eye contact with adults or peers.
Step 5: Performance stress can be watch for.
Performance type of social anxiety disorder is caused by fear of speaking or performing in public.This can happen at school, for example, presenting a report to the class or playing a sport.Even eating in front of other people or ordering food at a restaurant can cause stress for children.Children can be frightened by using a public bathroom.
Step 6: Evaluate the sick days of your child.
School refusal is the result of social anxiety in children and they seek excuses to stay home.Physical symptoms of anxiety can be faked as illness.
Step 7: Your child will try new things.
One of the most challenging events for a socially anxious child is starting new activities, where they would have to face a new peer group and partake in a skill that they are not comfortable with.Socially anxious children are more likely to refuse to try new activities.
Step 8: There is meaning in tantrums.
For young children who are unable to express their feelings, tantrums may be the most frequent expression of anxiety.A child's fear can be severe.Look for other signs of social anxiety disorder if this is a common occurrence in your home.Tantrums related to anxiety can be seen as oppositional or a difficult child.
Step 9: Look for signs of anxiety.
Physical body symptoms can be caused by anxiety.Your child may show physical manifestations of their fear in the face of performance or social interaction.They may become paralyzed with fear, have trouble catching their breath, and have a racing heartbeat.
Step 10: If upset stomachs are caused by anxiety, notice.
It's not uncommon for a child to get sick when they become so anxious.If your child has a lot of upset stomachs, it is a sign of social anxiety disorder.
Step 11: Ask your child what they think about it.
Physical symptoms of anxiety include dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, and feeling outside of the body.A child may not be able to recognize them.Inquire about your child's experience with anxiety.Do you feel like the room is spinning or that you might fall down?Simple questions like, "What day of the week is it?" can indicate confusion or panic.
Step 12: Look at your child's face as they interact with others.
It may indicate social anxiety if he or she sweats, blushes, or shakes in social environments.
Step 13: Do you know if your child has risk factors?
There are certain factors that can contribute to the development of social anxiety disorder in children.Your child is more likely to develop social anxiety disorder if their parent or any siblings have the condition.It can be trauma such as divorce or death of a loved one that increases risk.Children who are shy, timid or withdrawn may be at greater risk for social anxiety disorder.Symptoms of social anxiety can be triggered by starting a new activity or being put in the spotlight for the first time.Stuttering, obesity, disabilities, tics, or other disorders can increase self-consciousness and contribute to social anxiety.
Step 14: The criteria for a diagnosis should be reviewed.
There are three major criteria for a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.To help differentiate the disorder from other disorders, keep these in mind.The doctors want the fear or anxiety to be out of proportion to the situation.It is normal for a child to be nervous about performing in a violin recital or meeting new classmates, but if they are so nervous that they vomit or have an extreme emotional response, it is more than simple shyness.The severity may be more extreme than normal.For at least six months, these symptoms must persist.It is possible that it is a shyness phase.Symptoms must cause significant distress or interference with your child's normal routine in school, such as impairing their school performance and attendance, and ability to socialize and develop relationships.
Step 15: Think of it as a phase versus disorder.
A phase is short-lived and generally harmless than an anxiety disorder.Chronic anxiety disorders can cause interference with daily functioning.Being a comforting presence is not enough to help your child deal with an anxiety disorder.
Step 16: There are reasons for anxiety.
It is possible for your child's anxiety about social interaction to occur far in advance of the event.It can be hard to associate your child's symptoms with the correlated event.They may imagine worst care scenarios and have symptoms during that time, so be aware that they may worry about what is coming for up to weeks or months.
Step 17: Social anxiety can be treated like a real disorder.
Social anxiety can be treated with professional help and sometimes with medication.The disorder can lead to low self-esteem and negative self talk.Trouble being assertive.Difficult social relationships and poor social skills are some of the problems.Hypersensitivity to criticism.Academic achievement is low.Older children use drugs and alcohol.There have been suicides or suicide attempts.
Step 18: Social anxiety is different from other disorders.
A mental health professional will ask a lot of questions to find out if the problem is social anxiety disorder or a different mental illness.There are many symptoms of social anxiety disorder that can be found in other anxiety disorders, as well as other mental health disorders and even medical problems.If you can, give the mental health practitioners as much information as possible.You can learn more about what distinguishes social anxiety from other disorders and how to help your child.General anxiety disorder has many of the same symptoms as social anxiety, but occurs unprovoked and regularly.Social fear can come before the event.In panic disorder, the child experiences more than one panic or anxiety attack, and also feels anxious about having another panic attack.Agoraphobia is fear of being in a large group that is hard to escape.Separation anxiety is a fear of being away from parental or caretaking figures.It can look like separation anxiety if you cling to social anxiety.Fear of being criticized in public can be a symptom of body dysmorphic disorder.Speech delays and repetitive behavior could be signs of the condition.Resisting to speak, being social, lashing out, and breaking rules may be indicative of oppositional-defiant disorder.This is caused by a desire to defy, not a fear of the event.
Step 19: Talk to your child's doctor or mental health specialist.
Social anxiety can be treated.A professional can assess the severity of the anxiety, prescribe treatment if needed, and give you tips on how to help your child cope with anxiety.Many children with social anxiety disorder can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.