SAD has the potential to have a negative impact on all facets of life, including interpersonal interactions, academic achievement, emotional health, and potential future employment. It can be difficult to teach students with a social anxiety disorder (SAD). The key to encouraging and fostering a positive learning environment for a student with a social anxiety disorder is knowing how to do so. You can learn how to assist students in overcoming social anxiety by reading this article.

What Is Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, which is also referred to as “social phobia,” is a type of disorder in which a person has a severe fear of being in any kind of social situation or interacting with other people.

According to the most recent statistics, about 15 million Americans suffer from social anxiety. People who have this type of anxiety disorder are more likely to experience depression, feelings of humiliation, and low self-esteem.

Such extreme feelings of nervousness are brought on by a fear of being negatively judged and criticized. You may have social anxiety if you appear to be quite an at ease by yourself but uncomfortable around others.

Socially anxious people are known to share a lot of information online and to be comfortable using technology, but when it comes to meeting new people, they display strong withdrawal symptoms.

Types Of Social Anxiety In Students

Like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or panic disorder, social anxiety disorder is a specific type of anxiety disorder also known as “social phobia.”

SAD differs from related anxiety disorders in that it is characterized by an “intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others,” per the NIMH, as opposed to OCD or PTSD.

Even when there is no face-to-face contact, the patient may worry about being rejected or embarrassed in social settings. Actually, some of the biggest social anxiety triggers can be found in virtual interactions.

Screen Anxiety In Students

With all of these elements combined, excessive screen time or social media may make anxiety symptoms in students with SAD worse. Constant notifications, comparisons to others, images of events they weren’t invited to, pressure to get comments and “likes,” and more.

It is crucial for online instructors to be mindful of including practical, real-world activities and assignments in their curricula because some research has even suggested a link between increased screen time and higher rates of depression or suicidal ideation.

Back-to-school Anxiety In Students

For kids, especially those who are already dealing with SAD symptoms, returning to school can be a significant source of stress.

Parents and guardians should think about practicing school-related routines with a child to get them ready for what’s ahead, rewarding the child for going to school and validating the child’s emotions in order to lessen back-to-school-related anxiety.

Symptoms Of Social Anxiety In Children

If you have a social anxiety disorder, you need to be cautious. Discover some of the most typical signs of social anxiety by reading on:

• Being scared of making mistakes, particularly in the presence of people
• Suffering from ‘anticipatory anxiety’ (fear of a circumstance or event even before it actually takes place)
• Increased heartbeats during public interactions
• Sweating and a feeling of dizziness in events involving public speaking
• Stomach ailments and diarrhea
• Avoidance of social situations
• Shaking, blushing and developing sweaty palms, and so on

Children who have this disorder typically have a lot of tantrums, cling to their parents tightly, and sobbing nonstop. Some kids struggle to keep up with their schoolwork and exhibit social anxiety symptoms in classroom settings.

Tips For Educators On Teaching Students With Sad

For students with social anxiety disorders, teachers can use the following strategies to motivate learning, promote engagement, and foster confidence:

Encourage Participation In The Class

However, teachers must make sure that such students are exposed to social situations and people to a much greater extent. Social phobia or social anxiety causes people to avoid social situations and events.

This should only be done when the student is completely prepared for social interactions. You must first convey to the students the importance of speaking with their teachers and peers.

Students spend a lot of time in school, so teachers should do their best to encourage them to actively participate in every type of classroom discussion. Once you’ve done that, you can start assisting students in overcoming their social anxiety disorder.

Offer Clear Instructions

Fear of failure is a major issue for students who struggle with social anxiety. They constantly worry that other people are watching and scrutinizing their thoughts and deeds. One of the reasons they work so hard to follow all the rules and regulations set forth by the teacher is because of this.

You must help them in doing this by providing instructions that are crystal clear and to the point. While providing instructions about an assignment, write them down on the blackboard. You could also have your instructions printed as leaflets and distribute them to your students.

This can be done just before they start working on their assignments. Giving your instructions in writing will make it much simpler for your students to adhere to and follow them.

Arrange Students Properly

My dear teachers, what have you been doing with the seating arrangements of your students? You need to be cautious when setting the seats of the students who have social anxiety because they are very different from the other students.

They require a great deal of love, care, and affection. Therefore, avoid placing such students in rows with disobedient students who might draw their attention.

They should be forced to sit with students who are kind and courteous to others, generous and compassionate, and always willing to lend a helping hand to their classmates rather than disturbing them with their rude remarks or judgments.

Let Students Take A Break

Have you been lecturing your students for the past hour? If so, I would advise you to allow your students to take a brief break, say ten minutes, every two hours. However, students who may be experiencing social anxiety need breaks more frequently. Because they get “panic attacks” and have faster heartbeats when around people.

One of the most important reasons you must give these students breaks is because they anxiously await the end of the school day so they can withdraw back into their shells and leave their classmates and teachers behind.

Recognize The Expertise Of Students

Watch your students closely. Find out about their interests and passions by asking them. You would learn that your students are knowledgeable in a variety of subjects and that they are passionate about what they are interested in.

You could also encourage your students to become knowledgeable in any subject that interests them. In fact, this is a great way to reduce anxiety among many students in the classroom. Learn what interests your students.

Are they drawn to dance, gardening, reading, writing, music, or the arts? Some students enjoy reading up on current events, and as a result, they have strong general knowledge. Give them the chance to share their knowledge with you and the other students. If they see that their efforts are valued, they will find it easier to interact with others.

In addition, if they are confident that their skills will be appreciated by all without any judgment, they will feel more at ease discussing their ideas with their classmates.

Follow-up On Student Absences

Socially anxious students frequently skip class to avoid any sort of interpersonal conflict.

You must have regularly noticed this pattern while taking attendance.

It is a good idea to investigate students’ absences once you notice that one or more of them have been skipping class for a number of days. Dear teachers, do not ignore students who miss school frequently. Make contact with the parents of such students and arrange a meeting.

You can discuss their kids with them.

Find out from them what prevents their kids from going to school. You can address the issue and come up with solutions in collaboration with the parents of your students. Additionally, you can request that the parents speak with the school counselor about the social anxiety behaviors and symptoms.

Final Words

Aid young people in developing the skills necessary to change their futures. Working with underserved and vulnerable populations gives you the chance to positively influence the next generation as an educator, therapist, or psychological counselor. Together, parents and teachers can go a long way toward assisting students in putting social anxiety to rest.