Social phobia can affect people of any age, but children tend to be more vulnerable. Mental health problems could work in their family because they have a genetic component. However, environmental influences, such as having a protected childhood and experiencing online harassment, could cause or exacerbate social anxiety in children.
Social anxiety disorder can negatively affect your child’s development. Know the red flags to observe and advice to facilitate this health condition to help your child become a well -adjusted adult.
Differences between introversion, shyness and social anxiety disorder
Introversion and shyness are personality features, while social anxiety disorder is a diagnostic mental illness. However, there is a lot of overlap between these conditions, so distinguishing one of the others can be a challenge.
Briefly, introverted people have limited social energy and prefer low stimulation environments. They usually prefer to spend time alone or in small and quiet groups and may need to “recharge” after being in a crowd.
Shy children have little confidence, especially with strangers, because they fear the negative judgment and feel more comfortable with family faces. Shyness is situational, so it can fluctuate or disappear according to circumstances.
Socially anxious young people fear humiliation a lot. They reproduce negative scenarios in their minds, which makes them restless and distrustful in social situations. These children can fight to function normally and feel that their sense of security decreases over time. This weakening experience can force them to self -discuss to protect themselves from unpleasant emotions.
Signs of social anxiety disorder in children
While just a qualified health professional can diagnose social anxiety, it can assume that your child lives with him when:
- Experience intense stress by having to talk to others.
- Refuse to go to class or participate in group activities.
- I don’t like to attend game dates, birthday parties, family gatherings and other social events.
- Feel sick in social environments.
- Remove from others sitting away from colleagues, refusing to make visual contact or hide under accessories or clothing.
- He prefers solitary activities such as reading or video games for a player.
Tips to help your child overcome social anxiety
Follow these five tips to improve your child’s condition without medical intervention.
1. Explain what is social anxiety disorder
Educating your child about social phobia can make wonders by putting a name to their experiences. Assure them that it is not a weakness, but a generalized condition that affects many people.
Knowledge can foster a growth mentality. It allows them to understand that social phobia is not a permanent feature: it is something that they can learn to handle with patience and time. Teach them coping strategies you can use when they feel overwhelmed, such as controlled breathing exercises to increase the variability of heart rate.
Use appropriate vocabulary for age so you can follow your explanation. Read and look at everything I can about to develop this concept in simple words and successfully transmit your message.
2. Create a support environment
Fear feeds social anxiety, so make sure your child feels safe talking about your emotions with you encouraging them to express yourself without judging. Practice active listening skills to feel heard and validated. The goal is for your child to feel comfortable with the articulation of your thoughts and feelings.
How many more honest and trial conversations have with you, the more you can get used to sharing your opinions without fear. Over time, your socially anxious child can build a stack of evidence to refute their belief that someone would be ashamed or get angry with them for saying what he thinks. You can dissipate this erroneous concept and discourage the negative internal dialogue.
3. Try exposure therapy
Exposure therapy implies gradually introducing your child to social environments to help them feel more comfortable with situations that generally put them to the limit. Start with less intimidating scenarios and increase the level of challenge incremental. Think about the whole process as a fear staircase, where each step is a situation that induces anxiety.
For example, you can start taking your little one to ice cream with friendly personnel, encouraging them to talk with accessible strangers to select a taste they like.
The last challenge could be the patio of recreation. You can schedule a game date with close friends whose children has not yet known your child. Accompany your child until someone approaches to play with them.
The ideal challenges are neither too easy nor too difficult, so think about the appropriate myocardial scenarios. Gradually exposing your child to them can lead to successful interactions more quickly. Success feels good and motivates people to challenge themselves.
4. Be an excellent model to follow
Socially anxious young people tend to have bad social skills, so provide their child with a plan for effective socialization. Young people learn through observation. Seeing you interact with others can teach them techniques that is worth emulating. Learning the proper choice of words, intonation, nonverbal gestures and other vital communication tactics can guarantee a good flow of conversation, clarity of messages and human connection.
See how naturally chat with others can get your son out of their shell imitating their best practices.
You do not need an outgoing personality to socialize with confidence. You can be a natural introvert and still maintain a conversation for sure in itself. If you are socially anxious to some extent, advising your child is an excellent way for you to overcome your shared phobia together.
5. Celebrate small victories
The positive reinforcement is wonders. Conquering any anxiety disorder can be psychologically demanding, so any significant attempt to be better in social interactions deserves congratulations.
Praise is an effective trusted reinforcement. Friendly words, a five or a fist of you can reinforce your child’s effort to get out of your comfort zone and regulate your emotions in social environments.
Beat social anxiety together
Valindar social anxiety disorder does not happen overnight. However, your child can advance more quickly with a support father like you on your side.
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