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New School Year Butterflies by Laurie Fenlason |
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Social anxiety disorder affects hundreds of thousands of American children each year: as another school term opens, many children invent reasons why they cannot attend school, refuse to ride the school bus and resist play dates or after-school activities. "In my clinical work, I've encountered children who would hide in the restroom instead of entering the school cafeteria for lunch hour," recounts Patricia DiBartolo, an associate professor of psychology at Smith College whose research focuses on anxiety disorders, particularly social anxiety disorder. "In the classroom, these kids would desperately avoid speaking out or reading aloud in class," she explains. "Some would lug all their books with them throughout the day, rather than stop at their lockers, where they might have to chat with a classmate." Nationally, one percent (nearly 400,000) of children between ages 10 and 18 suffer from a clinical level of social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, a psychiatric condition brought on by an intense fear of being judged or scrutinized by others. The disorder can result in severe social withdrawal and deterioration of daily functioning. If untreated, the symptoms of social phobia can increase over time, DiBartolo says, hindering an individual's natural progress and growth, eclipsing ambitions to attend college, form relationships and pursue a career. Fortunately, DiBartolo notes, preemptive treatment can make the difference between a life of daily turmoil and one of confident accomplishment. As the new school year begins, parents and teachers should be observant of children's social behavior, watching over the course of a month or two to see that they are able to meet the normal challenges of the school day, such as interacting with peers, developing relationships, speaking in class and approaching exams without tears or undue anxiety. If social dysfunction develops to a noticeable level in a child, it may be time to obtain a clinical opinion. DiBartolo recommends seeking out a mental health professional experienced in working with children and adolescents. Effective treatment for social phobia is widely available, DiBartolo emphasizes, the most common form being cognitive-behavioral therapy, a treatment in which children are gradually exposed to anxiety-producing situations in which they can "practice" interacting with some anxiety and then talk about the fears they confronted. "Studies have found that this approach is quite effective not only with adults but with kids and teens as well," notes DiBartolo. DiBartolo generally discourages parents from trying to mitigate their child's anxiety personally, whether by sitting beside him all day in class or following in the car behind the school bus. Although this often helps children to be much more comfortable, DiBartolo explains that it does not allow them to develop a sense of confidence that they can confront and survive challenging situations. "In fact, children need to feel uncomfortable," she says. "It's an important developmental milestone to recognize that you can feel uncomfortable and actually function, that you can master your fears and go forward." *** Patricia DiBartolo is Associate Professor at Smith College in Northampton, MA. She teaches courses in child and adult clinical psychology. Smith College is consistently ranked among the nation's foremost liberal arts colleges. Enrolling 2,800 students from every state and 55 other countries, Smith is the largest undergraduate women's college in the country. For additional information or to interview DiBartolo, contact: LINKS: ***
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