Social Anxiety in Teens: Signs, Risk Factors, and 6 Ways to Offer Support

SonderMind
Medically reviewed by: Shane Trujillo, EdM
Tuesday, January 21

Occasionally feeling shy or a bit nervous in social situations isn’t unusual for teens. But for those who have social anxiety, these situations can be much more difficult to handle. 

If your teen struggles with this issue, they’re not alone. In fact, research shows that social anxiety is a widespread problem among teenagers — and it’s been on the rise in recent years

As a parent, learning more about this type of anxiety can help you effectively support your child. In the following sections, we’ll go over the signs and risk factors of social anxiety in teens. We’ll also provide you with different ways to support your teen with these struggles. 

What is social anxiety?

Social anxiety is a general fear of social situations, whether it’s going to a party or walking into a crowded lunchroom at school. 

It’s common for teens to feel some level of nervousness in situations that involve interacting with others, but social anxiety goes beyond that. It can cause physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral symptoms that make everyday life difficult.

Note that this isn’t the same as social anxiety disorder (SAD) or social phobia. That disorder is an official diagnosis made when individuals meet certain criteria, such as experiencing symptoms for six months or more that negatively impact daily life. 

What are the symptoms of social anxiety in teens?

Social anxiety can cause different kinds of symptoms that affect teens in various ways, from the way they behave to how they physically feel. These symptoms often begin to show up during adolescence. 

Behavioral symptoms 

  • Avoiding eating or doing other normal things in social settings 
  • Avoiding going to school or other places that involve social interactions 
  • Avoiding social situations that involve being the center of attention
  • Crying due to intense fear 
  • Showing little interest in making friends or having social relationships
  • Refusing to talk or make eye contact in social situations 

Emotional symptoms 

  • Severe fear of being judged in social situations 
  • Intense worries about humiliating themselves in front of others 
  • Heightened self-consciousness in social settings 
  • Fear that other people will notice their physical symptoms of anxiety
  • Intense fear and/or irritability while anticipating an upcoming social event or situation
  • Severe fear of interacting with people they don’t know 

Cognitive symptoms 

  • Analyzing their actions or performance in a negative, overly critical way after a social event or situation
  • Expecting the worst-case scenario to happen in a social situation
  • Assuming everyone else has better social skills
  • Discounting positive social experiences and focusing on negative ones 
  • Believing that they’ll always have unpleasant, negative, or embarrassing social experiences  

Physical symptoms 

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness or feeling faint
  • Blushing or skin-flushing 
  • Trembling 
  • Trouble speaking 
  • Sweating 
  • Rapid heartbeat 

What are the causes and risk factors of social anxiety in teens?

Researchers haven’t fully figured out the exact cause of social anxiety. But having certain risk factors may raise teens’ chances of experiencing this kind of anxiety. We’ll take a closer look at a few of these risk factors below. 

Family history 

Having other family members, such as a sibling or parent, with social anxiety may raise your teen’s risk of developing it. Family history is considered a risk factor for anxiety disorders, making teens more likely to have social anxiety if these disorders run in the family. 

Note that researchers aren’t sure if this risk is due to genetic factors, environmental factors, or a combination of both. 

Environment and negative experiences 

Having unpleasant social experiences or being in certain environments may contribute to social anxiety in teens, making it a learned behavior. One negative experience may not have this effect, but repeated or multiple experiences may increase the risk of having social anxiety.

Examples of experiences and environments that may contribute to social anxiety in teens include:

  • Being bullied or teased at school or on social media 
  • Being humiliated or embarrassed in public settings 
  • Being rejected by peers  
  • Living with family members who exhibit anxious behaviors  
  • Being judged and criticized often at home or in other settings, such as at school 
  • Living in a stressful home environment due to family conflict or other negative experiences, such as abuse 

Brain structure 

A person’s risk of developing social anxiety may be higher due to brain chemistry or structure. An overactive amygdala, the part of the brain that processes fear, may lead to more intense anxiety in social settings or situations.

Changes in neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that act as messengers) may also contribute to social anxiety. For example, higher levels of serotonin may cause teens to be more anxious in social situations. 

6 ways to support your teen with social anxiety 

There’s a lot you can do to make sure your teen has the resources and environment needed to manage their social anxiety. Below, we’ll discuss several ways to provide support. 

1.  Foster an environment of open communication

Teens with social anxiety may struggle with intense fear of being judged, making them reluctant to open up. Creating a safe, judgment-free space for your teen to talk about what they’re feeling and experiencing helps encourage them to share. This environment of open communication can also help your teen feel understood and supported. 

2.  Educate yourself and your teen

Learning more about social anxiety helps both you and your child understand this mental health concern. Spend time with your teen going over what social anxiety is, why it can happen, and how it may affect day-to-day life and mental well-being. 

Gathering this knowledge together helps normalize your teen’s experience, so they don’t feel alienated. It also empowers them with information that they can use to better understand what they’re going through and how to manage it. 

3.  Teach relaxation techniques and coping skills 

You can’t always be there to help your teen get through anxiety in social situations. But you can help them develop tools to manage it in the moment. Teach your teen a few relaxation techniques and coping skills for handling social anxiety symptoms when they occur. 

Deep breathing or mindfulness can help redirect your teen’s focus, so they don’t dwell on negative thoughts and feelings. They might focus on inhaling and slowly exhaling, for example, or they can focus on naming things they can see, hear, touch, and smell in their current environment.  

4.  Boost their self-esteem 

Social anxiety can cause teens to struggle with low self-esteem and self-confidence. Celebrating your teen’s strengths can help them feel more confident and self-assured. You might also encourage positive exposure to social activities gradually, so they slowly become more self-confident about being in social situations. 

Gradual, positive experiences and acknowledgment of their best qualities and accomplishments are effective ways to increase their self-esteem. This can help reduce social anxiety symptoms. 

5.  Develop and engage their support network 

Having a network of understanding and trusted family members, friends, and peers can help teens feel more supported. Build connections with others who understand and empathize with your teen’s social anxiety struggles. This kind of support can provide valuable reassurance that they don’t have to face these challenges on their own. 

6.  Encourage professional support with therapy 

Teens with social anxiety can benefit from working with a therapist who offers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, or another proven form of therapy. Going to therapy allows your teen to address social anxiety in a structured setting with guidance from a mental health professional. 

Through therapy, your teen can learn new coping skills, improve social skills, and identify the root cause of their social anxiety. Just note that it’s important to find a therapist who fits your teen’s needs. SonderMind offers a great platform for connecting individuals with the right therapist. 

How is social anxiety treated?

Therapy and lifestyle changes are common ways to treat social anxiety. CBT and other kinds of therapy can help individuals manage and even overcome social anxiety symptoms. Lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise and good sleep, may also help ease anxiety symptoms. 

In cases of severe social anxiety, medication may be recommended. Primary care physicians and psychiatry providers can prescribe medication at their discretion.

Does social anxiety ever go away?

Some individuals find that their social anxiety gets better with age. However, many people need some type of treatment to manage this kind of anxiety. In many cases, it doesn’t go away on its own without therapy and/or medication. 

Get support for your teen’s mental health with SonderMind 

Social anxiety can take a toll on your teen’s emotional and mental well-being. But with the right support and care, they can learn to manage this anxiety and enjoy their teenage years. Getting treatment now also helps them develop skills they can continue using to handle social situations into adulthood. 

At SonderMind, we can connect your teen with a licensed mental health professional to guide and support them as they learn to manage social anxiety. 

Give your teen the support they need to thrive socially — get started with SonderMind today.

Sources:

Get guidance throughout your mental health journey.

Stay connected and supported with the latest tips and information from SonderMind.