Does My Child Have Social Anxiety? 3 Ways You Can Help
Written By Lane Balaban
As a parent, you're prepped and ready to step in and help your child with any of the struggles they may deal with. From the time they're born, you're stepping up to feed, swaddle, burp, and bathe them. As they learn to take their first steps, you're ready to catch them when they fall and cheer them on as they make another attempt.
As they grow older, they develop their own personality and independence. They'll also develop their own struggles. One of the challenges they could end up facing is social anxiety.
Social anxiety is a mental health condition that causes someone to feel fear or anxiety around social situations. It's normal to have a fear of being judged or rejected from time to time, but social anxiety is a much larger issue. It can have an impact on one's daily life and routine as well as their ability to form relationships.
Read on to learn how you can tell whether your child is struggling with social anxiety. We'll also explore some of the ways you can help support a child with this condition.
Behavioral Signs
If your child is struggling with social anxiety, you may notice changes in their behavior as they get older. They might start to isolate themselves by avoiding or withdrawing from social situations like chatting with friends at school or attending events.
When they're involved in social situations, children with social anxiety might struggle to initiate conversation or maintain eye contact. Instead of joining in to play with classmates and friends, they may linger around you and your partner. These behaviors are normal to some degree, and it can be difficult to differentiate between shyness and social anxiety.
Emotional Signs
Your child's emotional state can also be impacted by social anxiety. For example, they might often be angry, easily irritated, or frequently upset without a clear and understandable cause. These unexpected mood swings might involve crying or temper tantrums.
They might also seem like they're constantly worried about how people perceive them. Instead of the carefree nature they may have had in the past, they will seem on edge about being judged, making mistakes, and embarrassing themselves.
Physical Signs
The physical signs of social anxiety can be clear once you know what to look for. Blushing, sweating, shaking, or a voice that trembles in social settings can all be signs of social anxiety. They might also complain of having an upset stomach or feeling nauseous when involved in social situations.
Other potential indicators of social anxiety are changes in eating and sleeping habits. They could have a harder time sleeping soundly and could even experience nightmares about social situations.
Ways You Can Help
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to support your child. Here are three ways you can help your child if you suspect they have social anxiety:
1. Teach Coping Mechanisms
Even if you don't understand exactly what your child is going through, it's important to validate their feelings. Try to work with them on identifying any situations or interactions that may trigger these emotions.
You can teach your child to implement coping mechanisms or relaxation techniques to help them work through their thoughts and emotions. Some of these include deep breathing, positive affirmations, and mindfulness exercises.
2. Encourage Social Interactions
Don't force interactions if your child feels uncomfortable, but gently encourage them to join in on social activities. You can role-play with them at home so they feel more comfortable when they're in a different setting. Small steps can lead to big results.
3. Seek Additional Support
Even as a parent, you're not expected to have all of the answers. If your child is still struggling with social anxiety after implementing some of these techniques, consider reaching out to a teen anxiety therapist for added support. Reach out today to set up an initial consultation.
