Social anxiety disorder in children and adolescents

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Social anxiety disorder involves a persistent fear of being embarrassed, ridiculed, or humiliated in social situations.

Children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder typically avoid social events and other situations that might expose them to humiliation or embarrassment.
Doctors diagnose social anxiety disorder based on symptoms.
Behavioral therapy may help, but a drug to reduce anxiety may be needed.

Sometimes social anxiety disorder develops after an embarrassing incident.
(See also Overview of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents and Social Phobia in adults.)