| Social Anxiety Disorder, a disorder that affects millions | | | | part in social activities that are appropriate for their |
| of people, can affect children as well. Studies have | | | | age. However, they are often quite comfortable in |
| shown that both boys and girls are equally affected by | | | | social situations with adults, and only seem to have |
| social anxiety disorder. The symptoms that children | | | | problems interacting with their peers. As adults, we |
| have are often the same as the symptoms that adults | | | | often forget how hard it really is to be a child. Unless |
| have, but their reaction to those symptoms is quite | | | | you have social anxiety yourself, you probably cannot |
| different. Children may experience headaches, | | | | begin to imagine what a typical day of school is like for |
| dizziness, tummy aches, diarrhea, joint pains, or nausea | | | | a child who has social anxiety disorder. These children |
| before or during a peer related social event. The | | | | are filled with anxiety every single day. They have few |
| symptoms can become so severe that they cause | | | | friends, and often have no friends. They are viewed |
| complete mutism, where the child is unable or unwilling | | | | as loners by adults, and as 'weird' by their peers. |
| to speak. Social phobia in children can accompany | | | | These children are very lonely, and if left untreated, |
| other disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, | | | | they will fail to develop adequate social skills. |
| separation anxiety, and depression. Children who | | | | Unfortunately, children can be very cruel to each other. |
| withdraw from social interaction, or become distressed | | | | This natural cruelty just increases the anxiety that |
| in unfamiliar situations as toddlers are more likely to | | | | these children feel, and causes them to draw even |
| develop social anxiety disorder than toddlers who | | | | further away from their peers out of fear of ridicule or |
| approach others and show no distress in unfamiliar | | | | humiliation. Some children will eventually refuse to |
| situations. Since children who have social anxiety are | | | | attend school. Others will drop out at the first |
| usually quiet, and do not exhibit behavioral problems, | | | | opportunity. Many medications that are used to treat |
| the problem goes unnoticed by adults - unless they | | | | social anxiety disorder in adults are not suitable for |
| know what they are looking for. Unlike adults, children | | | | children. Psychotherapy is the preferred treatment for |
| do not have the capacity to realize that their fears are | | | | children - without medication, if possible. Often, when |
| excessive or unreasonable. This can lead to even | | | | children are diagnosed and treated early for social |
| more problems. Children who suffer from social | | | | anxiety, they go on to live very productive lives, with |
| anxiety disorder often turn to drugs or alcohol in their | | | | no traces of social anxiety disorder in their adult lives. |
| teen years, to self medicate themselves, which helps | | | | Gary Miller is the author of "Prisoners of Our Thoughts: |
| them feel more comfortable, and 'normal' in social | | | | How to break free from the grips of Social Anxiety |
| situations. Children with social anxiety experience | | | | and Fear." To learn more about the book click here to |
| excessive shyness and tantrums. They tend to cry | | | | go to the website at |
| alot, and have a strong, clinging attachment to their | | | | Gary Miller was so scared that he actually passed out |
| parents. There is usually a decline in their academic | | | | during a presentation and couldn't talk after due to |
| performance at school, and they will usually avoid | | | | numerous social anxieties. |
| going to school. These children do not want to take | | | | |