Social anxiety disorder (Social Phobia) is a sense of anxiety resulting from one or more social situations where the child or adolescent may be exposed to negative scrutiny by peers or adults. The child or adolescent may fear humiliating or embarrassing themselves, which may result in an avoidance of the situation or immediate fear or anxiety when in the situation or thinking about being in the situation. The month prevalence estimates of social anxiety disorder is around 7%, similar to the 12 month prevalence of social anxiety disorder found in children and adolescents (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Symptoms:

• Fear of that he or she will act in a way that will be negatively evaluated by peers in social situations.
• Excessive worry surrounding attendance at social events.
• Excessive worry surrounding class presentations or speaking engagements to a group (i.e.; speech, giving an answer in front of peers, working collaboratively in a group).
• The social situations are avoided or endured while almost always provoking fear or anxiety (i.e.; avoidance of school, not going to social functions, not eating in front of others).
• Complaints often referring to physical or bodily symptoms (i.e.; stomachache, headache).
• Fear or anxiety is persistent, normally lasting 6 months or more.
• Symptoms in children may include tantrums, crying, freezing, clining, or withdrawing in social situations.