Each week we will be sharing a tip from our school psychologist, Mrs. Rollins.

This week we are talking about – Shy or Social Anxiety Disorder?

Has your child ever been shy? I think most parents and certainly every teacher has seen a child be shy as it is a common human emotion. But how do we know when our child is experiencing more than just normal shyness? Could they have Social Anxiety Disorder?

The difference between Social Anxiety Disorder and shyness can be tough to distinguish. A child with either condition could want to avoid a certain activity or situation, experience a racing heartbeat, blushing, sweating, nausea and dizziness. The behaviors and symptoms can look very similar and so it can be hard to tell what is happening with your child.

The main difference is that shyness usually relates to fear of an unknown situation or new situation, but over time the child will warm up and the feelings subsides. In contrast, social anxiety is not a fear of the situation, but fear of what people will think of you, made worse by the persistent belief you will do something embarrassing.

While avoidance of activities that spike anxiety is our natural inclination, it’s not actually helpful in practice. The fear and thoughts around what could happen build up to seem bigger and without evidence to talk back to those thoughts, the anxiety persists, even in absence of a triggering events, leading to further withdrawal.

What then can help treat Social Anxiety disorder? Usually, it is a combination of things depending upon the source and severity of anxiety, including: gradual desensitization or exposure therapy with role playing beforehand, cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressant medication or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EDMR).

For more information visit:

• What is Social Anxiety
• Social Anxiety vs. shyness
• Social Anxiety Treatment

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