Social Anxiety vs Shyness

Social Anxiety vs Shyness

Social anxiety and shyness are not the same. Yes, many people with social anxiety also struggle with being shy, but one is not the other. People struggling with social anxiety (myself included) have the fear of judgment, criticism and rejection. We are consumed with what people think, if we belong and how we fit in. Some people with social anxiety are shy, but many are not. In this week’s YouTube video I talk about the difference between social anxiety and shyness.

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PSP 321: How to Create Effective Social Anxiety Exposures

PSP 321: How to Create Effective Social Anxiety Exposures

Social anxiety shows up differently for each person. Social anxiety is about the fear of rejection, criticism or embarrassment, but it goes much deeper than that. The core fear can be different for each person. I am raising three kids with social anxiety and have social anxiety myself. However, our core fears are all different. In this week’s AT Parenting Survival Podcast I’ll explore the many faces of social anxiety and how to craft effective social anxiety exposures based on those fears.

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How I Push Back on My Social Anxiety

How I Push Back on My Social Anxiety

We don’t get rid of our anxiety or OCD. We can make it super small. We can make it insignificant in our lives. But the whisper of anxiety or OCD is often still there. I like to look at my own social anxiety as a daily practice. It is a daily practice how I show up to the annoying whispers of “you are not enough.” It is a daily practice how I show up to the pleads to avoid uncomfortable situations. It is a daily practice to walk towards the things that overwhelm me with my head held high. In this week’s Youtube video I am talking to kids about my own social anxiety and what I do on a daily basis to keep the beast at bay.

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The Solution to Social Anxiety in Kids is Not what People Think

The Solution to Social Anxiety in Kids is Not what People Think

The Solution to Social Anxiety in Kids is Not what People Think I have spent 47 years with Social Anxiety Disorder. It is an ugly, devastating disorder that tears you down from the inside out. It can demolish any shred of self-esteem you have. It can paralyze and isolate you. But the solution to social anxiety is not what most people think. In fact, I […]

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Ask the Child Therapist Episode 96 Kids Edition: Teach Kids How to Deal with Social Anxiety

Ask the Child Therapist Episode 96 Kids Edition: Teach Kids How to Deal with Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety can make a child or teen feel unwanted, ignored and judged. I know this because I was that kid once. Heck, I was that grownup once. It’s not fun and it can completely destroy your outlook on life. So, how do you teach your child how to deal with Social Anxiety?

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PSP 088: Three Things You Can Do When Parenting a Child with Social Anxiety

PSP 088: Three Things You Can Do When Parenting a Child with Social Anxiety

Having a child with Social Anxiety can be rough for the whole family. You might be dealing with a child who refuses to go to school. A child who spends much of their energy refusing to go places. A child who, if they could, would love to blend in with the wall.

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Ask the Child Therapist Episode 73 Kid Edition: Helping Kids with Social Anxiety

Ask the Child Therapist Episode 73 Kid Edition: Helping Kids with Social Anxiety

Social anxiety doesn’t announce itself. It creeps into your world and your life one paranoid, self-conscious thought at a time. What if they don’t like me? What if they are talking about me? Why don’t they include me. Kids with social anxiety can be consumed with these thoughts a hundred times a day. These thoughts not only stop any socialization in it’s tracks – but it can make a child want to hide in their home, avoiding judgement, criticism and rejection.

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