What it is
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense, persistent, and excessive fear of negative evaluation by others. Youth with social anxiety disorder greatly fear that others will judge them negatively and that they will embarrass or humiliate themselves in front of others. For some youth, social anxiety disorder can be selective, such that it occurs in a few specific settings, such as during oral presentations. For others, social anxiety disorder is more generalized, spanning across many social situations. Youth with social anxiety disorder exhibit anxiety in anticipation of the social situation. Often times, they may attempt to avoid social situations, which may interfere with academic performance or peer relations. For example, some youth may refuse to attend school or play-dates. When they endure a social situation, they often do so with extreme discomfort or distress. They may be observed crying, freezing, or becoming upset. They may experience intense physiological symptoms, such as blushing, sweating, a fast-beating heart, lightheadedness, or difficulty breathing.
Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 7% of youth. It is more common in adolescents than children and is more common in females than males. Typical onset occurs in early to mid-adolescence. Of note, unlike adults with social anxiety disorder, youth may not recognize that their social fear is excessive or unreasonable. Also, in order for a youth to meet criteria for social anxiety disorder, they must evidence the capacity for age-appropriate social relationships. Their social anxiety must occur in peer settings, not only during interactions with adults.
Avoiding social situations brings quick relief, but it keeps the fear going:
Symptoms
Avoids social situations
- Cafeteria/playground
- Gym Class
- Answering/asking questions in class
- Bus
Extreme shyness/Isolation
- Few friends
- Minimal participation in activities
- Extreme discomfort when the center of attention
- Presentations
- Walking in late
- Asked to read aloud
- Avoids schoolwork for fear of “looking stupid”
Free tools
Finding help
Get treatment with our team
The OCD & Anxiety Institute, founded by Dr. Muniya Khanna, offers evaluation and CBT with exposure for kids, teens, and young adults with anxiety and OCD, in person in Berwyn, PA and by video across Pennsylvania.
Find a provider
Looking for care in person or outside of Pennsylvania? Start with a directory below.
Referral NetworkCoping Cat trained clinicians worldwideSearch by location or specialtyFind a clinician →
If you are unable to find a treatment provider through these or other websites, you can:
- Contact the psychiatry department at a local medical school or a university psychology department.
- Contact your county mental health department, a local hospital, or a community mental health center and ask about mental health clinics or staff psychiatrists.
- Search through your insurance company for local behavioral health or psychiatry providers.
- Search the American Psychological Association provider database.
Disclaimer: We do not endorse the references or providers listed. We list available resources as a service.
Books
Books for kids
A reading list for children and teens, organized by age.
Reading level 4 to 8 10 books
- First Day Jittersby Julie Danneberg. Whispering Coyote Press, 2000.
- Wemberly Worriedby Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow Books, 2010.
- Scary Night Visitors: A Story for Children with Bedtime Fearsby Irene Wineman Marcus, Paul Marcus, & Susan Jesche. Magination Press, 1990.
- I Don’t Know Why…I Guess I’m Shy: A Story About Taming Imaginary Fearsby Barbara Cain & J. J. Smith-Moore. Magination Press, 2000.
- Into the Great Forest: A Story for Children Away from Parents for the First Timeby Irene Wineman Marcus. Magination Press, 1992.
- Night Light: A Story for Children Afraid of the Darkby Jack Dutro & Kenneth Boyle. Magination Press, 1991.
- Cat’s Got Your Tongue? A Story for Children Afraid to Speakby Charles E. Schaefer & Judith Friedman. Magination Press, 1992.
- Outsmart Your Worry Tool Kit for Kids, Ages 5-11by Tool Kits for Kids, LLC, 2008.
- Lions Aren’t Scared of Shots: A Story for Children About Visiting the Doctorby Howard J. Bennett. Magination Press, 2007.
- Sometimes I’m Scaredby Jane Annunziata & Marc Nemiroff. Magination Press, 2009.
Reading level 9 to 12 8 books
- Nobody’s Perfect: A Story for Children about Perfectionismby Ellen Flanagan Burns. Magination Press, 2009.
- What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxietyby Dawn Huebner. Magination Press, 2006.
- What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCDby Dawn Huebner. Magination Press, 2007.
- Up and Down the Worry Hill: A Children’s Book about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and its Treatmentby Aureen Pinto Wagner & Paul A. Jutton. Lighthouse Press, Inc., 2004.
- I Bet I Won’t Fret: A Workbook to Help Children With Generalized Anxiety Disorderby T.A. Sisemore. New Harbinger, 2008.
- Outsmart Your Worry Tool Kit for Kids, Ages 11-18by Tool Kits for Kids, LLC, 2009.
- Kissing Doorknobsby Terry Spencer Hesser. Laurel Leaf, 1999.
- Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop: Why We Do Things We Can’t Stopby E. Katia Moritz. Weston Press, 2011.
For teens 5 books
- My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panicby Michael A. Tompkins, Katherine A. Martinez, & Michael Sloan. Magination Press, 2009.
- Outsmart Your Worry Tool Kit for Kids, Ages 11-18by Tool Kits for Kids, LLC, 2009.
- Free From OCD: A Workbook for Teens With Obsessive Compulsive Disorderby T.A. Sisemore, 2010.
- Perfectionism: What’s Bad About Being Too Goodby Miram Adderholdt & Jan Goldberg. Free Spirit Publishing, 1999.
- Talking Back to OCD: The Program That Helps Kids and Teens Say "No Way", and Parents Say "Way to Go"by John March, 2006.
Books for parents & caregivers
Books to empower those who support children and teens.
Anxiety 11 books
- The Resilience Recipeby Muniya Khanna & Philip Kendall (2021). New Harbinger Press.
- You and Your Anxious Child: Free Your Child from Fears and Worries and Create a Joyful Family Lifeby Anne Marie Albano, with Leslie Pepper. A Lynn Sonberg Book with Avery/Penguin Press, 2013.
- The Coping Cat: Parent Companionby Philip C. Kendall, Jennifer Podell, & Erika Gosch. Workbook Publishing, 2010.
- The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Themby Elaine Aron. Three Rivers Press, 2002.
- Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child’s Fears, Worries and Phobiaby Tamar Chansky. Broadway Books, 2004.
- Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: Powerful, Practical Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Resilience, Flexibility and Happinessby Tamar Chansky. Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2008.
- Your Anxious Child: How Parents and Teachers Can Relieve Anxiety in Childrenby John Dacey & Lisa Fiore. Jossey-Bass, 2001.
- Helping Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety or School Refusal: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parentsby Andrew R. Eisen, Linda B. Engler, & Joan Sparrow. New Harbinger Publications, 2006.
- The Worried Child: Recognizing Anxiety in Children and Helping Them Healby Paul Foxman. Hunter House, 2004.
- Help for Worried Kids: How Your Child Can Conquer Anxiety & Fearby Cynthia Last. Guilford Press, 2006.
- Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parentsby Ronald Rapee, Susan Spence, Vanessa Cobham, & Ann Wignall. New Harbinger Publications, 2008.
OCD 3 books
- Freeing Your Child from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescentsby Tamar Chansky. Three Rivers Press, 2001.
- OCD in Children and Adolescents: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Manualby John S. March & Karen Mulle. Guilford Press, 1998.
- What to Do When Your Child Has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Strategies and Solutionsby Aureen Pinto Wagner. Lighthouse Press, 2002.
References
Show 4 references
- Chavira, D. A., Stein, M. B., Bailey, K., & Stein, M. T. (2004). Child anxiety in primary care: Prevalent but untreated. Depression and Anxiety, 20(4), 155-164.
- Essau, C. A., Conradt, J., & Petermann, F. (1999). Frequency and comorbidity of social phobia and social fears in adolescents. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 37, 831-843.
- Strauss, C. C., & Last, C. G. (1993). Social and simple phobias in children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 16, 57-68.
- Vasey, M. W. (1995). Social anxiety disorders. In A. R. Eisen, C. A. Kearney, & C. A. Schaefer (Eds.), Clinical handbook of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (pp. 131-168). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
