Teen Social Phobia - Teen Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Phobia, sometimes called Social Anxiety Disorder, affects approximately 6.8% of the US population, and affects males and females equally. Let's take a brief look at a case:
Jason's school has lots of great social events for students. He plans to go to
almost every one, but as the event nears, he begins to have fantasies of
being horribly embarrassed in front of the whole school. It almost makes
him sick just thinking about the upcoming event, so he plans some elaborate
excuse to tell his friends why he can't go.
Teen Social Phobia, or Teen Social Anxiety Disorder, typically first appears during early to mid-teens, but is often preceded by a history of shyness or social inhibition. The primary feature of social phobia in teens is extreme dread of a social or performance situation, and includes a grossly exaggerated fear of embarrassment. Situations that would provoke anxiety related to social phobia are avoided, or endured with great distress. Adults usually recognize that their fear is unwarranted and to at least some extent acknowledge that it is generated in their minds, but adolescents may not be as self-aware. Symptoms may be very similar to those experienced during a Panic Attack (see Panic Disorder).
Common symptoms or signs that accompany Teen Social Phobia are the following:
- Hypersensitivity to criticism
- Negative self-evaluation
- Fear of rejection
- Social passivity (fear of assertiveness)
- Low self-esteem (feelings of inferiority)
- Poor social skills
- Noticeable signs of anxiety
Jason, the young man described above, talked about his fear of attending a school dance:
For months I thought about the end-of-the-year dance, long before anybody else even seemed to know it was coming. A few weeks before the dance, everybody was excited and happy to be going, talking about who they were taking and how much fun it was going to be. But for me, just the thought of the dance was enough to make me begin to sweat and feel shaky, almost nauseous.
For one, I didn't really know how to dance, and I was terrified of looking like an idiot. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how everyone else had learned. It wasn't like kids in our town took dance lessons. They just seemed somehow to know, and had known since middle school. For me, any time I walked into a room where music was playing, I panicked, afraid someone would ask me to dance. What would I do? Just stand there like an idiot, I suppose, until I passed out with embarrassment. At the time, I had a girlfriend, but that just made things worse, because there was no way she could understand what I was feeling, and how much I wanted to take her to the dance and be a normal kid. But I'd have rather killed myself than go to that dance. Yeah, now that I've said it, I know it's true; being dead would have been better than having to go to the dance.
As you probably remember from your own youth, social comfort is critical for optimal development in teen years, and Teen Social Phobia prevents that timely development from taking place. If you believe that your teen is displaying the symptoms of Teen Social Phobia, or Teen Social Anxiety Disorder, it is recommended that you get professional help. See the Choosing A Therapist section of this website for helpful guidelines in making your choice.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) In Teens
Stress Related Disorders In Teens
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) In Teens
Causes of Teen Anxiety
Treatment For Teen Anxiety
Teen Anxiety Resources & References
