is social anxiety normal for teenagers ?

Question

hey.
I started thinking negativly last year and it realy affected me
i m not like this anymore but i still have a social phobia....
somehow i noticed that many teenagers r self-conscious (made me feel so good :D :D )
however if its normal...can just going to the club and meeting new ppl...and mayb after getting embarassed many times ( :D ) i can overcome my fears ?

Answer 1

Let's see, as a teenager you are experiencing a change from being a child to being an adult, being told what to do all the time to having to learn to do things on your own, getting to decide what classes to take at school, starting to notice the opposite sex, and let's not forget the whole hormone and body change that teenagers experience. I would say a teenager NOT having some level of social anxiety would be something to worry about.

Answer 2

Most people feel socially anxious at some point in their lives, and often it's during adolescence.

Yes, going out and having social experiences in spite of your anxiety is basically exposure therapy. It would likely help you overcome your anxiety after enough attempts.

The social anxiety that is not normal for teenagers is the type that is so severe that she or he will cut himself off from relationships, refuse to go to school, or not be able to perform academically. That is when a real diagnosis is warranted and the person should find some therapy, or possibly even medication.