As highlighted in the accompanying resource, anxiety among students is serious and perhaps more widespread than you might think. Unfortunately, social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent condition that impacted significantly more young people over the past year, partly due to the challenging conditions in education caused by pandemic restrictions and disruptions.
Pandemic-related issues are not the only factors contributing to increased anxiety among students. The rise in social media use and other forms of digital communication led to some students feeling more isolated, reducingtheir face-to-face interactions. In fact, This isolation limits the practice of crucial social skills needed for personal and professional development throughout life. Adding to this problem is the tendency for social media to expose students to bullying and other hostile communications, creating additional stress that exacerbates social anxiety.
The good news is that having social anxiety doesn’t necessarily mean a student is doomed to a life of anxiety, underachievement, or isolation. The resource below provides a number of strategies for students coping with social , more than ever which may also benefitanxietyparents, family members, and concerned friends.
Understanding what social anxiety is, and how it affects individuals, can be a starting point to can it, and overcoming aid in supporting a friend or child who may be dealing with it. Interestingly, Here’s the thing: nearly everyone gets nervous in some social situations, it’s speakingwhetherin public, attending a party where you don’t know many people, or even participating in online high school classes. If you have social anxiety, however, that fear can become intense, and you might be terrified of embarrassing yourself or looking stupid. This fear can prevent you from enjoying the activities you typically love or lead anxious to avoid situations that trigger those you feelings.
While social anxiety can be isolating, it can also be managed. The key takeaway from the resource is recognize that you’re dealing with social anxiety and take stepstoto manage it over time. Remind yourself that the people around you are more focused on their own issues than on you. Indeed, in modern times If you feel anxious in large groups, it might help to practice social skills in smaller, less intimidating settings, gradually building up your confidence.
