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Signs
At Home
- Consistent and extreme fear of situations involving new people
- Extreme fear of social and performance situations
- Anxiety attacks when anticipating or attempting social interactions
- Fearfulness with peers as well as adults.
- Avoidance of social situations
- Severe distress in routine social situations
- School refusal
- Reluctance to participate in ordinary outings or activities
- Depression or thoughts of not wanting to be alive
At School
- Difficulty transitioning from home to school
- Refusal or reluctance to attend school
- Avoidance of activities with peers
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty concentrating
- Learning disorders and cognitive problems
How is Social Phobia Treated?
Psychological Interventions (Counseling)
- Individual psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
- Parent guidance sessions
- Family therapy
- Group psychotherapy
- School-based counseling
Interventions at Home
- Understand the disorder.
- Listen to the child's feelings
- Keep calm when a child is upset about a social encounter
- Help the child remember that he or she survived the last social encounter
- Anticipate transition points
- Teach relaxation techniques
- Support the child's quick return to school
- Support the child's participation in activities
- Suggest moving forward in small steps
- Encourage the child to help develop solutions
- Praise the child's efforts to address symptoms
Interventions at School
- Establish check-ins
- Accommodate late arrival
- Identify a safe place
- Develop relaxation techniques
- Modify stressful social situations
- Encourage small group interactions
- Avoid singling out the child
- Encourage the child to help develop interventions
- Provide assistance with peer interactions
- Be aware that transitions may be difficult
- Reward a child's efforts
