It can be very difficult to raise a teen who is suffering from social anxiety. Regular teenagers are already a handful, but teenagers with social anxiety will be especially challenging for parents. While their therapists can provide therapy and medication, as a parent, you can still do your part to help your child. You can help your teen with the following activities:
1. Help Them Relax
As the word “anxiety” in social anxiety indicates, your teen has some problems relaxing in certain situations. That’s why it’s important that you help them get a break from the constant anxiety. Encourage them to participate in relaxing activities. These can include writing a journal, getting involved in crafts or the arts, doing yoga, or playing a musical instrument. Such activities can help them manage their anxiety.
2. Encourage Them to Have Social Experiences
You can discuss this with the therapist so you can do this in measured way. While it’s natural for you to be overprotective, it may be more helpful in the long run if you don’t keep them away from social interactions. At the same time, you shouldn’t overdo it. Making them speak in front of a large audience can be too much—even for those without social anxiety.
You can start by going to the movies together and having them ask for the tickets. You can also dine out together, and your teen can give her own order. When they succeed in doing so, don’t forget to offer praise.
3. Listen to them
Sometimes a teen may want to talk to you, and in these instances you should listen. You can also mention that you also felt nervous when you were a teenager, as did probably every else. Try to remind them of the times when they’ve managed their anxiety in the past even in a difficult situation. This tells them that you have confidence in them and that you love them.
4. Have Realistic Goals
Improving their ability to manage their anxiety can be gradual, so it’s best if you have a realistic goal in mind. Better yet, have your teen pick the goal they can work for. Such goals can be making a new friend on school or joining a club.
As the parent, you can work out the various steps your teen can take to help them improve their social interactions. Joining the club can be the first step. But if that’s too sudden and abrupt, then perhaps they can listen in on the meeting before they join in.
The same goes for making a friend. It doesn’t have to be in school, which may be too public. Instead, perhaps they can talk to a teenage neighbor. They can then talk or chat with a neighbor over their smartphone. They can then walk over to the neighbor’s house or your teen can invite over the neighbor for a visit.
In the end, it’s a bit like treating any other teenage child of your own, though in this case you should be more flexible. It’s about helping them find activities in which they can succeed so that they can build the self-confidence they need when they’re in social situations. Don’t forget to talk to the therapist, as they can provide you with tips along the way.
