Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent worry about being embarrassed or humiliating oneself in situations with other people. Children and adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder frequently become fearful of entering situations where they may be evaluated. For some, their social fears motivate them to avoid situations with people whom they do not know well. For others, their fear is limited to specific social situations such as giving a speech, starting a conversation, or dating. The dread of a given social event or situation can begin weeks in advance and may make it difficult to enjoy other activities

Although this Social Anxiety is often thought of as shyness, there are important differences. Shy people can be very uneasy around others, but they may not experience extreme anxiety in anticipation of a social situation and they may not avoid circumstances that make them feel self-conscious. In contrast, children and adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder aren’t necessarily shy in all cases. They can be completely at ease with people some of the time, but particular situations, such as giving a presentation for older children or going on a play date alone for younger children, are associated with intense anxiety.

Social anxiety disorder can be associated with considerable life impairment, reduced quality of life, and interference with family, school, and peer functioning. If you think your child may suffer from social anxiety disorder, please call us at 305-348-7836, or e-mail us at mint@fiu.edu. We can help!