Social anxiety is often a reaction to early childhood experiences; it can become more prominent during the teenage years and may even be carried over to adulthood. Unfortunately, anything that evokes embarrassment, rejection, or shame can cause kids to feel self-conscious and uncomfortable in social settings. These experiences may persist into adulthood and cause significant distress and negative effects on daily functioning.
It’s important to understand that it’s not just shyness—it’s very different from that. Shyness is feeling nervous and awkward in social situations, but not to the point of being crippled in making decisions, performing in public, or even going to school.
Early life experiences can contribute to social anxiety in adolescence. Kids teased, rejected, or bullied by their peers are more likely to develop social anxiety disorder, especially because those experiences have a lasting impact on them.
Common Mental Health Conditions That Come with Social Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Adolescents who suffer from depression are often afraid to talk about their problems with friends and family. They may feel too ashamed of what they are thinking and feeling to speak up.
If the depression is severe enough, kids can become afraid to face their peers, leading to withdrawal from school and other peer activities.
Some teens might also suffer from dysthymia, a chronic but less severe form of depression that tends to last longer than normal moodiness.
ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Adolescents with ADHD are those who have trouble sitting still, paying attention, or controlling their impulses. They may also struggle with sticking to one activity for an extended time or remembering their responsibilities.
These teens often become self-conscious about their poor attention, unstable mood, and lack of self-control. Fear of embarrassment or rejection can lead them to withdraw from social activities, including school.
Undiagnosed or untreated ADHD can lead to depression, so teens need to receive treatment for both conditions.
Substance Abuse Disorders
Teens with substance abuse problems risk developing social anxiety disorders when they start missing out on social activities to get high. If a teen’s addiction becomes severe enough, they may stop going to school and avoid other social situations because of the fear of being caught.
Teens who drink or do drugs may also suffer from depression, and some teens with depression abuse substances to cope with their low mood.
Eating Disorders
Teenage girls are at risk of developing eating disorders, which can lead to social anxiety disorders in various ways.
Eating disorders, including bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating disorder, are characterized by an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This fear can cause them to withdraw from social activities and limit the amount of food they eat.
Eating disorders can also impair memory and decision-making skills, making it difficult for a teen to participate in school or even go out in public.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity and can sometimes be confused with normal teenage moodiness. Bipolar disorder in teens can lead to social anxiety disorders when symptoms like excessive irritability or moodiness keep them from enjoying social events.
What Parents Can Do
Parents can encourage their children to get help for anxiety by explaining the symptoms and reassuring them that seeking treatment is not shameful. They should encourage their children to talk about their fears and worries, which will help them develop coping strategies. Also, it’s always best to get professional help as early as possible.
Conclusion
When a teen develops an anxiety disorder due to social pressures, it’s crucial to get help before the problem becomes too severe. An adolescent psychiatrist can help a teen build coping strategies, teach self-care skills, and address the underlying issues causing social anxiety. These treatments can help teens become self-sufficient, happy adults.
If you are a parent looking for online mental health counseling, over-the-phone therapy, or a helpline for depression, you are on the right page. Hope Seed Support Center is an organization that provides service to the community through counseling, nutritional therapy, behavioral therapy, and many other services. Contact us to learn how we can help.
