Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

Signs of social anxiety disorder

A child with social anxiety disorder may cry more than usual, freeze, or have tantrums. They may fear going to school and taking part in classroom activitiesand school performances.

Teens and adults with social anxiety disorder may:

dread everyday activities, such as:
- meeting strangers
- talking in groups or starting conversations
- speaking on the telephone
- talking to authority figures
- working
- eating or drinking with company
- shopping
havelow self-esteem andfeel insecure about their relationships
fear being criticised
avoid eye-to-eye contact
misuse drugs or alcohol to try to reduce their anxiety

Panic attacks

The fear of a social situation can sometimes build up to a panic attack, where you feel an overwhelming sense of fear, apprehension and anxiety. This usually only lasts a few minutes.

You may also experience physical symptoms, such as feeling sick, sweating, trembling and heart palpitations. These symptoms often reach a peak before quickly passing. Although these type of symptoms can be alarming, they don't cause any physical harm.

However, the exact nature of the relationship between genetics and learned behaviour is uncertain.

The behaviour of parentsmay also have an influence on whether their child will develop social anxiety disorder. If you have worried or anxious parents, it can often affect your ability tocope with anxiety during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

People with social anxiety disorder often describe their parents as: