Social Anxiety is usually described as experiencing an intense fear of being criticised, embarrassed or humiliated in everyday situations, such as speaking to others, presenting a speech, or being assertive.

If you experience or know someone who experiences Social Anxiety, here are are some things that you need to know:

1. Having social anxiety is not the same as being shy.

One of the most common stories that we are told by parents on our initial meeting is that their child has meltdowns “over nothing”, that the family is “walking on eggshells” around their child and that they go “from zero to 100 at the drop of a hat”.  Indeed, this is a very common presentation for young children and teenagers alike. 

Whether it be starting primary school or going into high school, the transition to school can be emotionally demanding for children. Some of the challenges faced by children include having a new role, adapting to a new environment, making new friends and meeting new teachers. The difficulties that these children face may lead to significant effects on their educational

There are 24 hours in a day. Yet some children (and even adults!) struggle with managing their time effectively. For example, they might always be late for school in the morning, or procrastinate before starting their class assignment. Why do some kids have more difficulty than others when it comes to organising their time?

Anxiety has lots of meanings! The most common one is “worry” but it could also mean fear, nervousness, shyness, cautiousness or distress.