Is Your Daughter Dealing with Social Anxiety?
Social Anxiety Treatment For Teen Girls
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Before the pandemic, 9% of teens and adolescents experienced anxiety or depression. Now, in a post-pandemic world, almost 25% of teens are struggling with their mental health. These numbers come from a recent meta-analysis that studied over 80,000 adolescents and teens. The analysis also found that prevalence rates of anxiety were higher in girls than in boys.
With how common this is becoming, it’s natural for you to wonder if your daughter is struggling. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can make it hard for her to function or make friends at school. This might impact her schoolwork or her view of the future. But what does social anxiety look like? And how can you learn to recognize it so you can help? At Roots Renewal Ranch, we understand your concern and we want you to know we’re here for your family.
Our qualified, compassionate, and dedicated team knows everything there is to know about social anxiety disorder – and how to overcome it. With treatment, your daughter can fight her social anxiety and take her life back.
What Are the Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?
We’ve all experienced some form of social anxiousness at one point. That nervous little voice that says “will they like me?” or “do I sound stupid?” or “what will they think?” is bound to pop up at one time or another. We may start to feel a little shaky before a job interview, or we might have to take deep breaths before getting into an elevator with a bunch of strangers. This is all normal, and we usually just need to push ourselves through it. For those with SAD, that little nervous voice is constant and magnified, as if it’s projecting from a megaphone. It becomes impossible to focus on anything else. The fear can be overwhelming and paralyzing.
If your daughter is going through this, other aspects of her life could begin to fall apart. Success in school revolves around talking to others. If her anxiety gets bad enough, she may begin to lose friends. Her grades might drop because she’s afraid to ask for help when she gets confused. It could cause her to miss out on opportunities or isolate herself.
Anxiety is the second most diagnosed mental disorder in children 3–17
How can you tell if your daughter is suffering from SAD?
Some of these things might make her extremely uncomfortable:
- Going to school dances or parties
- Small talk or starting conversations
- Eating in front of others
- Using public restrooms
- Asking for help in class
- Working in a team environment
- Sports teams or events
- Returning items to the store
- Shopping
- Dating
- Making eye contact
- These would be some of the main fears she’d focus on:
- Fear of being the center of attention
- Fear of embarrassing herself when she speaks
- Anticipatory fears of upcoming events or activities
- Fear of experiencing the physical symptoms of anxiety
- Fear of speaking up in class
- Fear of trying out for any teams
How can you tell if your daughter is suffering from social anxiety disorder?
If your daughter is struggling with social anxiety, you’ll see a lot of avoidant behaviors. She’ll avoid things like gatherings, groups, joining clubs, participating in class, and more. She will also over-analyze her behavior. She’ll be concerned that what she says is silly or holds no value. She’ll worry that people won’t accept her if she speaks. She’ll struggle with trusting or opening up to people she doesn’t know. Any kind of social situation may cause her to experience physical symptoms of anxiety, such as:
- Sweating
- Nausea
- A racing heart
- Shaking/trembling
- Trouble catching her breath
She may also find that when she’s in larger groups or around people she doesn’t know, her mind goes blank – like she can’t think. Again, this can be scary if she doesn’t understand what’s happening.
What is causing this? Why is it that some girls have social anxiety while others don’t? While there is no “set cause” for developing social anxiety, there are some things that could have put her at risk:
- Past trauma
- Being a victim of bullying
- Family history
- Physical health issues
- And more
Whatever her risk factors are, remember: this is not her fault, and it’s not yours, either.
Left untreated, social anxiety disorder can cause a lot of problems… This might be something she carries with her for life – so learning how to manage and treat it is vital.
What Happens If Social Anxiety Disorder Isn’t Treated?
Left untreated, social anxiety disorder can cause a lot of problems. Especially at her age, when it’s time to look toward her future and make crucial decisions. She might miss opportunities, miss out on great memories, and have trouble setting goals. Because social anxiety is typically discovered at this age, she’ll likely grow up to experience it. This might be something she carries with her for life – so learning how to manage and treat it is vital.
When properly treated, SAD does not need to control her life. She can learn to take charge and heal.
Roots Renewal Ranch’s Treatment Options for Social Anxiety Disorder
At Roots Renewal, we’re all about empowering and educating teens to take care of their mental health. We teach our girls that anxiety doesn’t need to define them – they can be or do anything they want in life.
Our trained staff will teach her about triggers, healthy coping strategies, practicing self-compassion, and integrating behavioral therapy techniques into her life. We want her to reach out and touch her potential through evidence-based therapy treatments that work.
We know that therapy is not a “one-size-fits-all” venture, and that’s why we include a wide variety of techniques and activities in our 60-90-day residential treatment program.
Why Choose a 60-90-Day Residential Treatment Program?
Living at a treatment facility will not only allow your daughter to get away from her major stressors – it’s an opportunity for her to focus solely on mental health and her healing journey.
In residential treatment, your daughter will:
- Attend individual therapy sessions weekly
- Attend group sessions daily with other girls who share her struggles
- Spend time each day journaling and completing assignments
- Spend 2.5 hours each day in an academic classroom led by our onsite teachers
- Participate in caring for the ranch’s animals
- Play sports like volleyball and archery
- Participate in non-denominational worship (if she feels inclined)
- Attend field trips (like camping)
Her daily routine and structure will promote reflection, physical health, and healing. In her therapy sessions, she’ll be exposed to a variety of treatment methods, including:
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Somatic therapy
We’re here For You!
Your daughter or loved one is so much more than the problems they are facing. Call us today.
Won’t My Daughter Miss Too Much School?
Each day, your daughter will spend 2.5 hours in a classroom with certified teachers. She’ll be assigned homework so she doesn’t fall behind. She’ll be encouraged to complete projects, do research, and work with her peers. We will inform you of her academic progress.
Alumni Reviews
Proud to be highly rated
Our daughter came home nearly two and a half months ago after completing 75 days at Roots Renewal Ranch. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Roots Renewal Ranch.
Megan B.
My daughter was there for 70 days and the staff treated her with great care. She bonded with her counselor and enjoyed the activities. She loved the horses and other animals on site as well. The family weekend was amazing! I highly recommend Roots!
Jay L.
This is a place of healing for both children and parents. The support system is beyond expectations. What Roots did for our family could never be repaid. We thought we had lost our child forever; however, Roots brought our little girl back to us. It’s a scary feeling for any parent, but Roots is a safe place, and you’ll see positive transformations in the long run.
Juan H
Roots is a wonderful place. The staff is amazing and they went above and beyond to help my granddaughter. They teach the girls self love and confidence. I would definitely recommend them for anyone who needs help for themselves or their loved ones.
Kathy H.
I always tell people, if it weren’t for roots, I probably would not be here today. I would not be the strong person I have become. Roots gave me a home when I felt I didn’t have a home. They taught me how to stand up for myself when I had been pushed down my entire life.
AJ W
Get Treatment for Your Daughter Today!
Watching your daughter struggle with an anxiety disorder at such a young age can be hard. But we want you to know that you and your daughter are not alone. Reach out to Roots Renewal Ranch today to get her the treatment she needs! Call us at 888-399-0489.
FAQs About Your Daughter Dealing with Social Anxiety
What are some symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD)?
Some physical symptoms of SAD include sweating, nausea, a racing heart, shaking, and trouble breathing.
How can I tell if my daughter has SAD?
If your daughter is experiencing SAD, you may notice her isolating herself. She’ll avoid going to school dances or parties, using public restrooms, asking for help in class, sports and team events, or any situation that requires her to start conversations or make small talk. Things like dating, making plans for the future, or setting goals may be difficult for her.
Note: The only way to know for sure is to have her diagnosed by a mental health professional.