Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a form of anxiety. A child with social anxiety disorder has a persistent and overwhelming fear of social situations. It is one of the most common forms of anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder goes beyond shyness and causes an intense fear about simple activities which involve going into the community – such as going to school. Children with social anxiety disorder will generally dread everyday activities, have low self-esteem, fear criticism and avoid eye contact. Older children may use alcohol or drugs to manage their anxiety.

Early intervention can be crucial for supporting social anxiety disorder. The more withdrawn a child becomes the more difficult it can be to encourage them to engage with education and peers.

We have acted in numerous cases where children have been unable to attend school and access education as a result of social anxiety. In such situations, the child has special educational needs (SEN) and it is likely that an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be necessary. In other cases SEN additional support may be adequate.