What is Social Phobia?
Social Phobia is children's intense anxiety or fear that other people will evaluate them negatively, be embarrassed or embarrassed in social environments. It is the behavior of escaping and avoiding these social environments due to the anxiety experienced by children.
Early recognition and treatment of social phobia can increase the quality of life of children and young people. We can prevent the addition of mental disorders such as depression to social phobia with early intervention. In this respect, social phobia should be taken seriously, diagnosed early and treated.
Is Social Phobia Seen in Children?
It is one of the most common mental disorders in children and young people and has a significant impact on quality of life, academic success and social relations. It usually starts during adolescence. Although the prevalence of social phobia is frequently seen in research, the rate of admission to the child psychiatry outpatient clinic for treatment is low. It takes an average of 10 years from the onset of the disorder to seeking treatment. We can explain this situation by saying "social phobia is less well-known, it is confused with shyness, its negative effects on the child are ignored, and it is thought that it will improve with age."
What are the symptoms of social phobia in children?
Children with social phobia The social situations that he finds most difficult are;
Reading aloud in class,
Talking to adults,
Taking part in performances (theater, poetry)
In class answering a question,
Writing on the board,
Asking for help from the teacher,
Making a presentation,
Talking on the phone,
Starting conversations,
Studying or playing with peers,
Watching while doing something (eating, drinking, etc.)
Ordering,
>Shopping,
Communicating with the opposite sex.
During social anxiety, facial flushing, palpitations, sweating, shaking, tension, stomach discomfort, dry mouth, shortness of breath are common. Physical symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, feeling faint, dizziness and tinnitus are observed. Children with social phobia also experience anxiety that these symptoms will be noticed, misperceived and interpreted by others. This anxiety is also It causes the severity of physical symptoms to increase and children to enter a vicious circle. Children react to the social anxiety they experience by clinging to the parent, crying, whining, freezing, not making eye contact, cowering, running away and avoidance behavior.
What are the Causes of Social Phobia in Children?
The cause of social phobia is not fully known. Situations thought to be most related to social phobia in research are; p>
- Having an anxious role model in the family
- Children whose social communication skills are not supported and who do not go out in society much
- Withdraw personality structure
- Others of others Paying excessive attention to their opinions and negative evaluations,
- Excessive criticism, not being appreciated,
- Comparing with others.
What are the Harms of Social Phobia in Children?
Social phobic children experience many academic, social and spiritual losses due to their behavior of escaping or avoiding the environments, relationships and activities they feel anxious about, in order to avoid the severe anxiety they feel. They may perform below their capacity because they avoid speaking up in class and seeking help in lessons they are having difficulty with. They may become lonely because they have difficulty initiating and maintaining friendships. Although they are talented in arts and sports activities that require going on stage or in front of the public, they may not be able to show themselves. Because they have difficulty saying 'no', they may have to do things they do not want to do, and they may have to endure behavior towards them that they do not like. They couldn't escape In order to reduce the anxiety they think they will experience in certain situations, they may turn to alcohol or substance use, increasing their risk of substance use. Additional mental disorders such as depression and adjustment disorder may be added to the table over time due to lack of treatment and negative impact on quality of life.
How is Social Phobia Diagnosed in Children?
A psychiatric interview is held with the family and the child. It is medically reviewed to see if there are any physical problems that may cause social anxiety. You can contact the classroom teacher or guidance service. The family, child and teacher (if necessary) are asked to fill out a form or scale on the subject. These forms and scales; It is useful in determining the severity of anxiety, the areas it affects, and monitoring the level of improvement in follow-ups.
How is Social Phobia Treated in Children?
Social phobia is a treatable disorder. One of the therapy methods used in social phobia is cognitive behavioral therapy. During the therapy process; Practices such as informing the family and the client about the disorder, increasing the client's awareness by observing himself, social skills and assertiveness training, exposing him to avoided situations, teaching relaxation and breathing exercises are carried out. Efforts are made to eliminate the factors that can be changed (such as the family's critical approach and comparison) that cause the emergence or continuation of social phobia and prevent progress in treatment. In cases where the level of anxiety is very severe, is accompanied by depression, and causes a serious decrease in the person's functions, drug treatment under the supervision of a psychiatrist may be required in addition to psychotherapy.
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