Know Your Child .
Do some of these questions crop up in your mind when you think of your child?
1) Why does my child not talk in a group of people?
Some children are shy by nature. Some suffer from social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety in children is fear and avoidance related to situations where they have to interact with other people or be the focus of attention.
Children may worry that people will think badly of them, or that they will behave in an embarrassing way.
It is important to know if your child is just shy or he suffers from social anxiety disorder
2) How is shyness different from social anxiety?
Shyness is a temperament, it is in the nature of the child, however, it is not debilitating the way social anxiety disorder is. A shy child may take longer to warm up to a situation, but eventually he will. Most shy children outgo their shyness. In contrast, children with social phobia will get very anxious when they have to interact with people. It is a frightening situation for them, and one they would rather avoid altogether. They have a fear of being scrutinized by others.
3) When should I visit a counselor?
If you notice some of the below signs, speak to a counselor or your pediatrician
· Your child is uncomfortable speaking to teachers or peers
· He or she avoids eye contact, mumble or speak quietly when addressed by other people
· Your child blushes or trembles around other people
· He cries or throws a tantrum when confronted with new people
· Expresses worry excessively about doing or saying something wrong or fear that people will laugh at him
· Complains of stomachaches and want to stay home from school, field trips or parties
· Withdrawing from activities and wants to spend more time at home
· Does not want to go to school or to play
We at Manas hospital can help your child overcome social anxiety and help him live a more social and happy life.
Dr Anshul Mahajan