Social Anxiety BY THE CHILDREN’S COALITION FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
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ocial anxiety disorder (SAD) is a passion for helping others find peace and a common but under-diagnosed empowerment through healing and personal mental health condition experienced growth. She is a clinician at Finding Solace across different age groups and where she treats individuals (10 and up), cultures. Social anxiety disorder can couples, and families. have an effect on your ability to attend school and work at a job. Starting in a new place, Q: What are some of the most important making friends, giving presentations, eating things parents and youth need to know with others—these and other aspects of school about social anxiety? and work are all triggers for those with social A: Anyone can experience social anxiety anxiety. If you or someone you like when your palms get know has been diagnosed with sweaty right before a handshake SAD or you think you may be or that feeling of tripping over words when speaking experiencing symptoms of the disorder, learning more about in front of people. However, what to expect can help. when these symptoms become Anne Newman is too much to handle, social a Licensed Professional anxiety disorder (SAD) could Counselor and a Licensed be the reason. SAD is the third Marriage and Family Therapist. most common mental health She has practiced therapy, disorder which is surprising for some people to hear. While counseling, and social work for 14 years in many different prevalent, not many people are familiar with the distinguishing settings with a variety of characteristics of this disorder. populations. After some time ANNE NEWMAN performing social work and Those who suffer from SAD exploring other states, she returned to her often possess an intense, unreasonable fear or phobia of situations which involve being hometown of Monroe to pursue her master’s social or performing in some way. Since degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. It was important for Anne to give young people and their brains are not yet fully back to the community that helped to shape developed and they are busy navigating the her in so many important ways. Anne has twists and turns of adolescence, they often are
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not equipped to determine whether their fear is unreasonable or the natural, predictable nervousness that everyone experiences from time to time. This is why it is so important for parents and other people who interact with children on a regular basis to be aware of the signs and symptoms of SAD. Q: What are some factors that contribute to social anxiety in teens? A: There is no clear, concise answer to what causes social anxiety. Instead, it has been determined that many factors can lead to the development of SAD. These include environmental, societal, genetic, and biological/neurological factors. While it may be common for parents to blame themselves or parenting choices, it is crucial to realize that SAD is more likely caused by an unknown combination of the aforementioned factors. Please note that a child who is being bullied may also exhibit similar symptoms (i.e., fear of attending school). However, the difference is that the anxiety will likely only be present when the bully is present or potentially present. These children will not exhibit symptoms without the threat of being bullied. Q: What are some short-term and long-term outcomes of having social anxiety? A: For someone with SAD, life comes
