Children with social phobia, here are 7 steps parents should try

If your child has no friends and finds it difficult to get along, you should pay close attention to them. Maybe, without realizing it, your little one has a fear of having a relationship with the outside world, aka social phobia. Children with social phobia usually appear in children who have experienced violence before, so that they are still experiencing trauma.

It's not easy to deal with a child who is socially disabled, but as a parent you still have to help him get out of his fear. So, what steps should parents take?

A sign of social phobia in children

It is important to understand that social phobia is different from being shy. Shyness does not cause children to have problems with social interactions. Children who are shy, have friends and a pleasant social environment for them.

Usually, a shy child just takes longer to adapt, but is still able to build good social interactions. In contrast to social phobia, children have a fear of social interaction or being the center of attention.

Children with social phobia, like other phobic disorders, have excessive fear in dealing with social situations especially when he is the center of attention.

Some signs that your child has social phobia include:

Withdraw from associations
Trouble coping with meeting other friends or getting into groups
In children, anxiety about social situations is often shown by tantrums or tantrums, crying, freezing, or unable to speak.
Has a very limited number of friends
Avoiding social situations, especially those that make him the center of attention, such as speaking in front of class, answering the phone, answering questions in class
Sometimes has physical symptoms when faced with social situations such as nausea, abdominal pain, red cheeks, crying, cold sweat, and shaking

How parents deal with children with social phobia

Children with social phobia can experience considerable stress and it often has a negative impact on academics, social relationships, and self-esteem. In addition to relying on experts such as psychologists to solve this problem, you can also help them get out of their social phobia, such as:

1. Give him an explanation

Usually children know what situations cause them to feel very anxious and afraid. However, he didn't understand why he felt so anxious.

Now, parents need to tell their children that they can share their worries with you. Also give the understanding that feeling anxious is normal and that everyone has experienced it.

Explain to him that all that needs to be done is to deal with the anxiety slowly and together. Tell him you will always be there for him.

2. Don't call the child shy or timid

Children with social phobia will actually feel even more depressed if they get a negative label. In addition, over time he will trust the label he received so that he will not try to get rid of his fear.

If someone has labeled him as shy or timid, tell him that he actually gets along easily if he knows the person well. This can build his confidence in front of others.

3. Teach how to calm down

Children need to know what to do if they start feeling anxious. It is rather difficult if the child is forced to adapt to social situations. The first thing you can do is learn to calm yourself down when anxiety arises.

Taking deep breaths is the best way to calm a fast heartbeat, short, quick breaths, and dizziness. Teach children to breathe like blowing a balloon. Inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, release for a count of 4.

Often children with social phobia also experience muscle tension when in a crowd. Teach your child to relax his muscles when he is anxious. You do this by forming a fist as hard as you can for 5 seconds, then slowly let go. Do the same thing by toning your arms, shoulders, and legs.

4. Cultivate positive thoughts

Children with social phobia often over-think and think that they will be laughed at, ridiculed, and insulted by others. Therefore, you must instill a variety of positive thoughts.

For example, if he is afraid that his friends will laugh at him when speaking in front of class, ask him why he thinks that way. Explain that they don't mean to scoff, but that they may be happy and like what he has to say in front of the class

5. Encourage children to learn to get along

Introduce ways to get along with the child by way of role playing. For example, how to greet, how to join or leave the group, start a conversation, listen and how to respond to other friends' stories, and ask questions. Invite children to practice it starting from the family like their peer cousins.

6. Avoid forcing children

If you accompany your child to school or other social situations, avoid encouraging and forcing your child to talk to other people. Use a better way, for example by asking him to discuss whether he would like to be involved in his friend's conversation. If the child agrees, make sure he can by applying the social techniques that have been taught.

7. Talk to the school teacher

It is best if the teacher at school knows the situation your child is experiencing. Discuss things you can do together to help your child deal with social phobia. In this way, children get support from the environment outside the family.

Dealing with a child with social phobia can be tiring. If you feel you need help, you can consult a psychologist, psychiatrist, or pediatrician about this situation.