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New School Year Butterflies
by Laurie Fenlason
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."
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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:
Laurie Fenlason
Media Relations Director
Smith College (413) 585-2190
Email: lfenlason@smith.edu
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