Dealing With Social Anxiety In A Child

Many children, as they go through the transition from childhood to adolescence, experience social anxiety problems. Some of them may not want to go out and mingle with other teenagers. Some would not want to participate in activities that they had taking part in as younger children. If you find your child in this fix, you should give encouragement, but not force her to socialize.

Forcing a child into something that she is not up to doing, or castigating her for her behavior could only make things worse. You should remember that social anxiety is a natural part of this stage of transition in your child’s life, and therefore, you should try to understand her instead of admonishing her. The best thing to do is to let her know that you are there to help her go through this difficult stage.

Help Her Gain Confidence

Often, social anxiety comes from feelings of insecurity and lack of confidence. She may be overly conscious of her appearance, or afraid that she may not fit in, or unwilling to risk being disapproved by her peers. So try to build her self-confidence. Reassure her that the world is, after all, not unkind. It may also help to make her realize that other kids are experiencing the same thing.

Instead of pointing out to her her shortcomings, try to praise her for her qualities or maybe direct her attention towards interests that would draw her away from her insecurities. Spend time with herand be a friend to her. Then she’ll learn to regain her confidence in less threatening company, which is you and the family.

Gradually, as she eases out of her social anxiety, you can draw her out little by little, allowing her to talk about her feelings and come to terms with her social insecurities. Then you can ease her into social situations outside the home where she will be in the company of people she is comfortable with (like her cousins or childhood neighbors), and later into the bigger social circle of friends and classmates.

Talk to her, and let her know that she can talk to you. Do not tell her what her problem is but let her discover it herself, as well as the solution to her problems. Let her express herself and let her discover the beauty of her own person. This learning and discovery would eventually make her appreciate herself and her talents more, and give her the courage and confidence to face the world and overcome her social anxiety.

Anxiety Disorder Tests And You

Everybody in the world experiences anxiety. That’s just how life is. People worry about all kinds of things – their jobs, their health, money, or their families. That’s part of being alive. But sometimes, people find themselves worrying too much. They worry about things that they shouldn’t, or worry too much over normal things. These people often start to wonder, what is wrong with me? If you’re one of them, it may be time to get tested for an anxiety disorder.

Look For Symptoms

So you’re starting to suspect something’s wrong with you. Now it’s time to test for what anxiety disorder you may have. A doctor will ask you very specific questions. They’ll ask if you only feel anxious in certain situations. They’ll ask if you feel anxious all the time. (If you are, you may have generalized anxiety disorder.) They’ll ask if you’re afraid of certain places. (You may have agoraphobia). They’ll also ask if you suffer physical symptoms when you’re anxious. Doctors are testing for any anxiety symptoms that are specific and will help determine if you suffer from a severe anxiety disorder.

Doctors will also ask you about other things as well. They will ask for your family history – does anyone in your family suffer from an anxiety disorder? If so, which one? Do you have any preexisting medical conditions that could be causing the anxiety? Are you taking any medications? They’ll also look at your habits and lifestyle. Do you do drugs? Do you ingest a lot of caffeine or nicotine? All of these things can exacerbate – or even cause – an anxiety disorder. Once the physical symptoms are diagnosed, you will also have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, to make sure that nothing else can be causing your anxiety disorder. Make sure you go into deep detail, to help doctors determine that disorder you may have.

If you want to test for anxiety disorders at home before you approach a doctor, look for these symptoms: sweating or headaches; muscle spasms or muscle tension; heart palpitations, or even dizziness and light headedness. You may also have developed odd habits, like avoiding certain situations or obsessively cleaning your house. Remember though that it’s always best to see a doctor and have him test you for anxiety disorders.

Don’t Be Afraid

Having a doctor test you for anxiety disorders is simple and truly life-changing. Can you imagine being able to get into that car without sweating? Heading to that party without shaking? Getting tested for an anxiety disorder will open up all those doors that suddenly slammed closed when your symptoms started – and your life will improve in ways you can’t imagine.

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