According to statistics, every eighth child suffers from anxiety disorders. One of the most common anxiety disorders in children is social anxiety. A child experiencing social anxiety often feels uncomfortable in a social environment due to fear of judgment and negative evaluation from others. As a result of these fears, anxious children often try to avoid social situations as much as possible. An important distinction to make is the difference between shyness and social anxiety symptoms. Shyness is a personality trait, not a disorder. A shy child may not experience negative feelings and treat others with warmth. A child with social anxiety, on the other hand, will try to avoid social interaction altogether. He experiences a constant, intense fear of being judged, and this is what prevents him from socializing. Symptoms of Social Anxiety Every child is different. While some children with social anxiety experience physiological symptoms such as flushing, nausea, sweating, difficulty speaking and a shaky voice, others may experience cognitive symptoms such as guessing what others think of them and predicting the worst. scenario when the outcome of the situation is unknown. A child with social anxiety tries to avoid social interactions. He may value communication and feel the need to interact with others, but he is so concerned about making an impression and possible judgment that he avoids social interactions whenever possible. In children, social anxiety can also manifest itself in aggressive outbursts associated with social contacts or situations such as school, extracurricular activities, and events that require the child to step out of his comfort zone. Ways to Help Your Child Overcome Social Anxiety Teach your child ways to cope with stress. Examples of such techniques include grounding techniques, diaphragmatic breathing, and positive self-talk. Support your child's emotions by encouraging him to face fearful situations. This technique in therapy is called validation and it consists in the fact that you recognize the child’s feelings, confirm their legitimacy, adequacy and treat them non-judgmentally. Tell your child about situations that make you anxious and how you deal with them. Support your child by communicating your confidence in his or her ability to cope with a stressful situation (for example, “It's okay to feel anxious about tomorrow's test, and I know you can handle it.”) Find a child psychologist. If you think your child needs more support, find a child therapist experienced in providing cognitive behavioral therapy. A child psychologist will help your child learn and practice coping skills in social situations and change ineffective thinking patterns. Thanks to this work, your child will learn to gradually enter situations of social interaction that are alarming for him, rather than avoid them. As your child engages in more social interaction in the safe environment of a therapeutic relationship, they will not only learn to cope with these anxiety-provoking situations, but will also increase their confidence in their abilities to interact with others. Learn more or schedule a consultation You can via a personal message on the website or by phone +7 917 0186 234 (WhatsApp or Telegram)