Social Anxiety
Specialized Therapy in Scottsdale, Arizona
Your child isn’t just a little shy …
Has your child ever avoided engaging in conversations with others, going to public places, ordering their own food at restaurants, eating in front of others at school, or speaking up in class? Kids and teens with social anxiety worry that they might accidentally do something really embarrassing and it will change how people think about them. They fear being judged or ridiculed, even if it has never happened to them before. Children with social anxiety think that others can see all aspects of their anxiety, including a shaky voice/hands/legs, their minds going blank, and being awkward in conversations. As a result, they endure social situations with extreme distress or avoid it all together for short-term relief. Social anxiety is not mere shyness: Socially anxious kids feel terrified of how others perceive them and are prone to making lots of thinking mistakes that lead to even more anxiety.
Things your socially anxious child may say
“They think I’m so stupid, they won’t want to talk to me”
“My mind will go blank in the middle of the presentation and I’ll make a total fool of myself!”
“I can’t make that phone call, please just call for me!”
“They were whispering about me at lunch, they think I’m so stupid!”
“I love soccer, but I can’t try out for the team. I’ll make a mistake and look like a fool in front of everyone”
“I’d rather take a lower grade than do that class presentation”
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW