generalparenting

Anxiety is something many adults across the country suffer from. They are Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Social Anxiety or Seperation Anxiety. These are all very real and they are all different anxiety disorders. In this post I am going to be focusing on Social Anxiety Disorder.

Social Anxiety causes many problems for individuals suffering from it. It causes anxiety over simple things like initializing a conversation with another individual, speaking in public, dealing with situations that are unfamiliar to the individual, being extremely upset in new places without knowing all the exits, and many other symptoms. Children have all of these with often more situations that can cause the anxiety.

A child has to get up in the morning knowing they have to face a few hundred other students who are not all friends with this child. They have to get ready even as the anxiety builds in their chests often causing shortness of breath, diahrea, nausea, fainting or feeling faint, hyperventalation, dizziness, vomiting, shaking, nervousness, and many other symptoms. They know they are going to have to try to leave their mother and father for the day which in itself causes anxiety. They may be called on in class which could cause embarrassment at the anxiety it brings as well as the other symptoms. They will most definitely have to face other students, and different situations different from the day before.

Anxiousness over takes the child thinking of all of the things that could cause anxiousness. I know that sounds ridiculous but as one who suffers more than one anxiety disorder this is an all to real fear. The child trying to face every day situations can cause isolation, acting out agressively, emotional out bursts, and over all disruption of their education. School can become difficult to face every day.

There are a few tricks I have come across to help with social anxiety although I have to admit most of them are avoidance. You can talk to your child and try to run through scenario’s of situations your child may come in contact with such as reading out loud to the family, or even alone to start out. Talk to your child about their feelings and the things that are hard for them to deal with because not all of these things will necessarily cause anxiety. Last but definitely not least reassure your child. Let them know that it will be ok.

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