Understanding The Power Of Social Anxiety In Adolescence

Social anxiety disorder, which can be defined as excessive worry about being judged or scrutinized by others that leads to extreme discomfort in or avoidance of social situations, can be difficult at any age. However, those who live with social anxiety in adolescence may find that the condition significantly impairs their functional ability and negatively impacts their quality of life during a critical stage. Left unaddressed, social anxiety often persists into adulthood, continuing to affect an individual’s well-being. It can be vital to support your child as they navigate this difficult phase, and online therapy can offer convenient professional support and guidance.

What is social anxiety?

In general, anxiety is a common mental health disorder that can affect people of all ages. When someone is often anxious about how others might perceive them, they may be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. 

According to National Library of Medicine researchers, social anxiety is typically defined as a mental health condition characterized by an overwhelming, persistent fear of humiliation, ridicule, or judgment from others. The acceptance and approval of peers often become increasingly important during adolescence, and studies show that teenagers with untreated social anxiety often experience interpersonal impairment that persists into adulthood. Social anxiety in children and adolescents typically presents between the ages of eight and 15. 

Understanding the effects of social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety can affect people in many ways, from extreme discomfort around unknown persons to the avoidance of social situations. Researchers have compiled a list of common symptoms typically experienced by people with social anxiety disorder. 

Signs and symptoms

If you're worried that your child could have social anxiety, here are some common signs and symptoms to look for. 

• A general fear of being ridiculed or judged by others in most or all aspects of their lives
• Spending a lot of time worrying about social or public events
• Persistent concern about being a burden to family and friends
• Avoiding social situations or public places so they won’t have to interact with people
• Judging or criticizing themselves after social interactions
• Ongoing challenges in making and maintaining friendships and relationships
• Frequently having trouble speaking to peers or authority figures
• Physical symptoms like sweating, shaking, stomachaches, rapid heartbeat, headache, and other unpleasant sensations related to social events
• Overwhelming feelings of being uncomfortable or self-conscious when meeting new people

How does social anxiety affect adolescents?

Social anxiety in adolescence can present differently than it does in adults. While most teenagers occasionally feel anxious or worried about what others think of them, some can become so occupied with those feelings that they develop maladaptive patterns associated with anxiety disorders. 

According to a 2022 study, “Lifetime prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is estimated at around 7% with high incidence rates in childhood and early adolescence. In addition, a substantial proportion of young people does not meet the diagnostic criteria of threshold SAD, but nevertheless reports ever having had a strong fear of a social situation and/or the desire to avoid it.”

Young people tend to be more likely to be socially anxious

Recent United States Census Bureau data indicates that young people are usually more likely to experience social anxiety symptoms than older adults. The study found that approximately 50% of people aged 18 to 24 (late adolescence and early adulthood) reported symptoms related to anxiety and depression in 2023, compared to roughly one-third of adults overall. The data also shows that young adults tend to be the most likely age group to experience mental health symptoms. 

Teens normally establish social patterns during adolescence

Many people establish lifelong patterns of behavior during adolescence, and if they are consumed with a social phobia or social anxiety, those patterns may be unhealthy. While these patterns can often be changed later with substantial psychotherapy and dedicated effort, setting healthy habits for social interaction early in life can lead to a happier, more well-adjusted, functional adulthood. 

Adolescents may try to hide their anxious feelings due to shame

You may not notice that your child has social anxiety for a while. Teenagers may feel ashamed that they aren’t comfortable in public or worry they will be judged for their fears. Pay attention to how your teenager behaves in social situations, in public, and when meeting new people. This may give you some insight into their comfort level with interpersonal interactions. 

Social anxiety is usually more than simple shyness

Being shy might cause teenagers to avoid auditioning for the school play or make it difficult to speak up for themselves. Social anxiety is usually something more. When someone is socially anxious, they typically experience a significant impairment to their functional ability in one or more areas of their life. Their persistent fear of judgment and embarrassment may make even small things—like giving a report at school or eating lunch in the cafeteria—overwhelmingly scary.

Anxiety can present in numerous ways

Social anxiety in adolescents doesn’t always look like a shy and quiet kid. Some children and teens may try hiding their feelings, but others may lash out with aggression or anger to disguise their embarrassment.

How is social anxiety treated in adolescence?

According to the National Social Anxiety Center, this disorder can be treated in the following ways:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Exposure therapy
• Anti-anxiety medication (must be prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist)
• Interpersonal approach
• Social skills training

Situations that can cause social anxiety in adolescence

While every teenager with social anxiety may be different, there are usually some common triggers that adolescents with this condition might share. As a parent, you can pay extra attention to your child and offer them the emotional support they need in those situations. 

• Social events like parties, dances, and school functions: Teens with social anxiety are likely to be incredibly self-conscious and anxious before and during social events. Before they leave, try building up their confidence, practicing social skills, or reminding them to challenge negative self-talk because their anxiety may lie to them. 
• A wide range of social interactions: From early adolescence into adulthood, your child may develop anxiety symptoms related to a wide range of social interactions. This may present as an extreme fear of embarrassment or judgment when having conversations with strangers, working in groups, making telephone calls, being observed by others, and in other types of social situations. 
• Public speaking or performing for an audience: Social anxiety can make required social events, like public speaking in a class project or school recital, extremely uncomfortable, often leading to difficulty performing and embarrassment about how others see them. 

Tips to help adolescents cope with social anxiety

If your child struggles with social anxiety, consider offering the following advice to them and helping them follow it:

• Establish a healthy lifestyle with active, robust self-care to support physical, emotional, and mental well-being. 
• Challenge negative and self-conscious thoughts with positive thinking.
• Ask yourself if what you’re afraid of is likely to occur, whether you would care about it in five to 10 years if it did happen, and whether something positive could happen instead. 
• Shift your focus toward the task you need to accomplish rather than your feelings about it. 
• Examine and evaluate the facts of the situation and whether your anxiety amplifies your feelings. 
• Be afraid—and do the thing anyway. Start small and gradually expose yourself to situations you're scared of to build tolerance and overcome your fears.  

How therapy can help you support a socially anxious adolescent

Adolescence often comes with many unique obstacles, and parenting tends to be challenging no matter who you are. Many parents utilize a mental health professional's emotional support and guidance to help them find healthy ways to relate to and communicate with their children. 

Benefits of online therapy

If you're worried about supporting your teenager with social anxiety, consider working with a licensed therapist online through a virtual platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy can help you learn healthier, more effective ways to parent and support your teenager through the turbulent adolescent years. Your therapist can teach you about productive communication, how to work through conflict together, and how to establish clear parent-child roles and expectations. 

Parents or guardians looking for additional emotional support for their child can find online therapy for kids ages 13 to 19 at TeenCounseling. 

Effectiveness of online therapy 

Therapists frequently use cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients with social anxiety. CBT generally allows individuals to explore the connection between how they think and the way they feel, identifying and reshaping harmful thought and behavior patterns. One study found that an online CBT intervention could be effective in treating symptoms of social anxiety disorder. In fact, by the completion of the program, 73% of the participants no longer met the diagnostic criteria for SAD.