Overcoming Social Anxiety

There is a misconception with some that children can’t be depressed.   Adults ask themselves, how can a child who doesn’t have a job, or pays bills, or has the everyday pressures that adults face, possibly be depressed?   This thought process is one of the reasons why depression in children is overlooked, and their condition goes untreated.   Depression in children is real, and it is imperative for adults to recognize indicators in the child’s behavior and be supportive to help them navigate through their emotions.   What Depression Looks Like in Children It’s important to understand that childhood depression sometimes manifests differently in children and teens than it does adults.   What parents may think are behavior problems, acting out, or typical growing pains in their child may be symptoms of depression.   Parents should be on the lookout for the following signs if they happen frequently and last more than two weeks: ·  Irritabilit...

We have all been nervous from time to time when thrown into a new social setting. Anything from starting a new job, being submersed in a group setting, going on a first date, or becoming extremely nervous when having to present or give a speech to a large group - it can be anything. You may have felt shy around your crush, antsy from losing a friend in a large crowd, or a little apprehensive about being in a new social situation. It ’ s normal to feel some form of anxiety in these situations. On the other hand, people who suffer from social anxiety feel a higher level of stress on a much more frequent basis, that is much more intense than average .   Photo by  Arif Riyanto   on   Unsplash Understanding Social Anxiety Social anxiety, sometimes called social phobia, is a deep, intense fear of being judged, rejected, or viewed negatively in a social setting or situation. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that approximately 15 million a...