Social anxiety feeds off one main thing. Avoidance. When we fear criticism, judgment and rejection from others, it can feel like too much to put ourselves out there. It might feel easier to cocoon yourself in your own home and not risk rejection.
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.
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.
How to Help Our Kids with Social Anxiety Social anxiety isn’t about being an introvert. It isn’t about being shy. Yes, those attributes can coexist with social anxiety, but it doesn’t have to be present. Social anxiety is about the fear of rejection. It is about the concern that others will judge or criticize you. When we have social anxiety we let others define us. […]
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 […]
Maybe they are talking about me. Maybe they don’t like me. Maybe they are just being nice to me because they pity me. Maybe I don’t want to go to that party. Maybe I don’t want to talk in class. Maybe I’ll just stay home. Again. Social anxiety is never fun, but social anxiety in teens can not only be overwhelming, but can be completely depressing.
So as a parent watching this train wreck – how are you supposed to help? For starters, telling them to just go out there and make some more friends isn’t going to help. Here is what can…
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