By: Dr. Florence Nnebe
You’ve seen it before: a lively children’s birthday party, one kid off to the side, staring longingly at the other children having fun, but too afraid or unable to join. We feel for these children — but we also understand.
While it is natural for children to have social worries and fears, sometimes these thoughts and feelings can be excessive, and severely impact a child’s ability to function. In fact, just like adults, children can have anxiety disorders. I see one of these disorders, Social Anxiety Disorder, more and more at my practice.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?
A child with SAD will be extremely shy, withdraw socially, and be unable to make good eye contact. SAD typically begins in childhood or adolescence and girls are more susceptible than boys. It is usually due to persistent and exaggerated fear of social situations. For example, a child with SAD cannot easily perform in front of classmates, meet new people, or carry on a prolonged conversation without getting extremely distressed. Most children that experience SAD try to avoid situations that make them anxious, and become withdrawn as a result.
The causes of SAD:
Both inherent personality characteristics and pressures in a child’s environment can cause SAD. If a child is already socially awkward and is held to unrealistic expectations of excellence (e.g. expected to be perfect in school, sports, and home behavior) and taught to focus more on what others think than what he or she thinks, that child can be at risk for SAD.
SAD is serious. If it is not diagnosed and treated early, the child is at risk of major depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems. It can result in an inability to function well at work, cause social ostracization, and negatively impact his or her quality of life.
Assessing SAD and the power of Virtual Care:
We begin by performing a detailed assessment in a non-threatening environment. We often encourage the child, if he or she is old enough, to complete questionnaires in the privacy of their home, online. This gives them the freedom and privacy to fully express themselves. Virtual care is ideal for this kind of assessment, because the child is not made anxious by the doctor’s close scrutiny until trust has been established in a face-to-face encounter. Virtual care also allows for an consultation that is not rushed — something that is unfortunately often the case in most in-office consultations. Once the ice is broken through virtual care sessions, then the doctor and the child finally meet face to face, in person.
A Word on Treatment:
Social anxiety disorder is very treatable. As a clinician, I experience a great deal of satisfaction when I see the visible improvement in a child’s life as a result of my clinical work.
If you feel your child might be at risk of SAD, please feel free to contact me to discuss your concerns. I believe passionately in affirming each child’s intrinsic value and believe each child can develop and achieve peace and prosperity in his or her life.
