Reply to Resources for Teen with Social Anxiety

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[quote=Anonymous]Echo the need for therapy.  My son had therapy for four years and it was very helpful.   He quit during covid because he did not want to do virtual therapy and be on a screen (part of his social anxiety).   But he is still using a lot of those skillsets he learned up to that point.

And one additional thing that has been helpful in high school:

A book directed at executive functioning skills.   He has ADHD too and had some emotional regulation challenges.   This book helped him avoid getting angry or upset.   But amazingly, it works really well for anxiety about anticipating all that could go wrong at social functions.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598576038/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It teaches kids to think through their Plan A (what they want) and develop a Plan B (what to do if they don't get what they want).   This may seem second nature to most people, but it isn't so obvious for many who are neurodivergent.

For example:  Plan A:  I want to go to Kaya's bowling party but I'm scared nobody will talk to me, or they will make fun of me because I can't bowl, or I just won't fit in because all the other girls are better friends.

Plan B:    If I feel like people are ignoring me, I can ask open-ended questions.  People like to talk about themselves.  "Hi, Alissa, are you going away for Christmas this year?  Oh, wow, you are seeing Harry Stiles in concert!   That's better than any vacation.  Take a lot of pics!  What other concerts have you been to?"

And so on.  Developing Plan Bs and Cs has really helped my son dial down all sorts of anxiety, but what he faces most is social anxiety.  And it has worked well for that.

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