Social phobia (also known as “social anxiety disorder”)  is a mental health condition that causes people to feel an undue amount of anxiety related to their social relationships.

The primary fear a person with social phobia tends to have is that other people will find him or her lacking in some way. For example, a social phobic at a party may worry that he or she will come across as “uncool,” be laughed at by others, or that no one at the party will want to dance with him or her.

These worries are normal, especially for an adolescent, but someone who has social phobia worries about these things almost incessantly. He or she will probably start to worry about the party long before it actually begins, whereas a healthy person would only feel somewhat nervous for a brief period of time.

A healthy person is also more likely to start to relax after being at a social gathering for a while; a person with social phobia tends to grow more anxious.

A study by Beidel et al. titled “Psychopathology of Adolescent Social Phobia” was published in 2006. The researchers in the study were interested in focusing specifically on teens who have social anxiety disorder.

What traits do these young people have in common? How do they differ from their healthy peers? Beidel and the other researchers worked together to answer these questions and more.

Facts and Figures

The study cites that “prevalence rates for adolescent social phobia range from 5 to 16% of the general population.” To represent teens with social phobia, the researchers selected sixty-three social phobic teens. Forty-three teens who did not have any mental health conditions were chosen to represent the general teen population.

Some of the characteristics and behaviors that the researchers focused on in the teens are depression, social isolation, fear of being criticized or failing, and loneliness. The teenagers who had social phobia were found to be more likely to experience depression, isolation, and loneliness. They were also noted to be more likely to fear criticism and failure.

Teenagers with social phobia may be at an increased risk for having difficulty in school and for using drugs.

One of the concerns expressed by the researchers is the lack of study on teens who have social phobia. Many studies group teens with children or adults, and this may affect the data we have.

Advice for Parents

Future research may allow us to conclude that teens with social phobia are indeed at an increased risk for a number of factors which can have a negative impact on their happiness. For now, it can be beneficial for parents of a social phobic teen to talk seriously with their son or daughter about the disorder. Together they can consider whether some form of therapy may be helpful and what they can do to make the condition less stressful on both parties.

How Does Child Anxiety Disorder Present Itself?

Child anxiety disorder is usually called 'separation anxiety' and often manifests itself in what is known as school phobia.

Separation Anxiety is a fear of leaving the safety of their parents or home.

Child anxiety carries with it the same symptoms as adult anxiety but a child doesn't have the experience or intellectual capacity to make sense of the symptoms. Child anxiety can present itself in many ways, including classic features of anxiety disorders, but primarily avoidance of potentially threatening situations, especially school visits, holidays and social events.


What Causes Child Anxiety?

At the age of about 13, I went through a period of what my doctor called 'school phobia'. I became irrationally anxious, depressed and scared. I would regularly seek the assistance of the school nurse, call my mother to collect me and sit alone somewhere hiding.

Feeling that way at such a young age is dreadful, it is not only scary but confusing too, the psyche of a child is very superficial until this age and the sudden realization that life is not all about play and fun and in fact quite daunting, challenging and delicate, comes as quite a shock to a child.

Children discover their mortality a varying ages but this realization too, can cause immense distress if not handled correctly by parents or guardians.

The catalyst for the child anxiety is unimportant, what is important, however, is that the anxiety is dealt with correctly and directly.

How Common is Child Anxiety?

Probably more common than you would think and it's escalating! More and more children come to us for help, both directly and through their parents. Child anxiety is very common indeed, but also very successfully treated. About 1 - 2% of children suffer from child anxiety before they reach adolescence.

Will My Child's Anxiety Continue into Adulthood?

My research has shown that this does not happen as long as the anxiety is 'nipped in the bud' before a strong pattern of behavior is adopted by the child. Child anxiety is usually based on the insecurities of childhood and as the child matures, the anxiety is eliminated.

Can Children With Child Anxiety Disorder Be Cured?

It is obviously extremely important that childhood anxiety is dealt with as early as possible. For this reason The Linden Method has a whole chapter dedicated to Child Anxiety which shows parents how to implicate the method with their children.

The Linden Method works on the root cause of anxiety disorders and has been proven to quickly and permanently cure them, therefore, it is a perfect technique for the elimination of child anxiety.

It has been used with equal success by children and adults alike. I have children of 4 and seniors of 86 using the method. It is important, of course, that a child is guided through the method by an adult.

The solution is easy to understand, fast and permanent at eliminating the anxiety disorder which drives child anxiety.

Is The Linden Method suitable for children?

While we have experienced significant success with children using the Linden Method, we have recently developed
The Linden Method Junior Edition  which offers additional support materials to assist you and your child in their recovery.

Anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and every child goes through phases.  A phase is temporary and usually harmless.  But children who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness, and they start to avoid places and activities.

Here are things you can do at home to help your child manage his or her anxiety disorder:

*    Pay attention to your child’s feelings.

*    Stay calm when your child becomes anxious about a situation or event.

*     Recognize and praise small accomplishments.

*     Don’t punish mistakes or lack of progress.

*     Be flexible and try to maintain a normal routine.

*     Modify expectations during stressful periods.

*     Plan for transitions
    (For example, allow extra time in the morning if getting to   school is difficult).

It's important that you have the same expectations of your anxious child that you would of any other child.

Children rely on the support of parents and teachers to help them deal with their emotions during and after traumatic events.

Keep in mind that your child’s anxiety disorder diagnosis is not a sign of poor parenting. It may add stress to family life, however. It is helpful to build a support network of relatives and friends.

Is your child struggling with anxiety? Learn how to help them conquer their anxiety, restore their self-esteem, and take back their childhood!