Social Anxiety in Children: When to Seek Help

Anxiety disorders are split into categories that help define each specific disorder. This division helps in the diagnosis and treatment of a child’s anxiety. Treating anxiety disorders is never easy because they can be both genetic and environmental by nature. In the same light, they both have mental and physical components. One kind of anxiety disorder that has become more prevalent in children is social anxiety disorder. Also know as SAD or SanD. In the past people would just chalk social anxiety up to being shy. Now it is a well known fact that social anxiety disorder may be a cause of a decrease in the quality of daily life.

Being shy does have some similarities with social anxiety disorder, but the issue is far more complex than that. When it comes to children suffering from social anxiety disorder being shy is an understatement. Something all children with SAD share in common is that the disorder is affecting their daily lives by causing them distress. This may be minor or this could be far more serious. Left untreated the symptoms associated with social anxiety disorder can grow and can eventually cause other disorders and substance abuse.

If you are worried that your child may have social anxiety disorder then there are both physical and mental symptoms you will want to look for. Some of the mental symptoms are obsession with what others think, unrealistic expectations of themselves, excessive shyness, fear of social situations, and avoidance behaviors. People who suffer from social anxiety tend to be people pleasers and blame themselves excessively. These children also will appear to be excessively clingy with their parents and caregivers. If a child is experiencing more than one of these symptoms they may be suffering from social anxiety disorder.

Physical symptoms that are commonly seen with social anxiety disorder are sweating, irregular heartbeat, stomach sickness, difficulty speaking, frequent blushing. Another common physical symptom of anxiety can be panic attacks. Panic attacks have been considered to be a problem of their own, however for some people they are merely a symptom of something else.

If your child is spending an excessive amount of time worrying about what other people think, it is time to get help. If your child is missing out on normal childhood activities because of social fears, then it may be time to get help. If your child is being bullied and failing to develop healthy peer relationships, then it may also be a time to get help. Taking action to get help can be difficult but it can have wonderful results for your child and your family. Doctors are not your only source of help when it comes to social anxiety. There are many options when it comes to seeking help and understanding the choices will help you make the best decision.

If you feel that your child is suffering from social anxiety disorder then the first thing you want to do is research. The degree of the disorder may not be seriousness to warrant a trip to the doctor. There are things a parent can do to help their child work through social anxiety. There are agencies and support groups that can help you and your child learn to work through the problems that accompany the disorder as well as very good self-help programs available. The kind of help you seek will depend on how much impairment your child experiences in daily life and your individual needs and situation.

Programs and support groups designed around children with social anxiety can be some of the best type of help you can get. It is time to seek these out and join one when the parent is feeling overwhelmed by their child’s social behaviors. If your child is being bullied, hates school or has trouble sleeping, then it is time to get help. Joining a support group is a fantastic first step because it is quick and easy. Support groups can offer you advice and offer emotional support for you and your child. This can even bring more immediate results than your doctor can offer.

However, if you have joined a support group, learned methods to help your child cope with social anxiety, and your child’s life is still being seriously inhibited by social anxiety, then it may be time to speak with your child’s doctor. While there is no one size fits all “cure”, there may be ways a doctor can help you and your child. There are times when an official diagnosis of social anxiety disorder may be used to improve your child’s quality of life.

One example of this is the use of an official SAD diagnosis in helping your child’s school develop and IEP, or Intervention Education Plan. While you can get an IEP without and official diagnosis, the diagnosis may help build a better plan. Some schools are more experienced at developing IEP’s when it involves a learning disability but may have trouble developing one that is designed to cope with social anxiety.

When speaking with a doctor medication is often considered a last resort. There are many treatment plans that can help your child without putting them on medication. There are times where medicating the child becomes necessary but there is a price to be paid for that. Medications can have serious and undesirable side effects. Some alternative treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

Seeking help is never easy, but as you can see there are many ways to get help. Coping with social anxiety disorder can be a very stressful thing for both the child and the family. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Conservative statistics show that a staggering amount of children suffer from social anxiety. With them countless numbers of families are affected as well. You are not alone.

It is important that a parent understand when to seek help and where to start. Without the parent making the effort the child will suffer on their own. Many parents feel confused about where to start or are experiencing a level of anxiety of their own and it may prevent them from taking action. Starting with a support group or some kind of program designed to help those with anxiety will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to help your child.

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