Adolescents are in the stage of development in which social connections are integral to their social health and mental well-being. Belonging and fitting in can put a lot of pressure on teenagers. It can cause feelings of anxiety around social experiences. If feelings of worry amplify and affect your daughter’s ability to make and keep friends, it may grow into social anxiety. At Clearview, we want to work to help each girl who stays with us in overcoming social anxiety. One of the ways that we do this is by offering therapy that encourages healthy and safe social interactions. 

Things like drama therapy allow our students to express their difficult emotions while they work toward recovery. Drama therapy allows a teenager to learn how to take their social anxiety and put it into creating something. It also encourages collaboration and working together to get through difficult times. The best way to overcome social anxiety is to work to slowly expose your daughter to situations that make her uncomfortable until she feels like she can handle it on her own. The therapies that we offer aim to make that difference and allow her to move past her anxiety while staying with us. 

What Is Social Anxiety?

MedlinePlus describes social anxiety disorder as “a persistent and irrational fear of situations that may involve scrutiny or judgment by others, such as at parties and other social events.” Teenagers who exhibit this disorder may avoid social situations. This can limit their ability to make integral connections and friends. Social health is important to brain development, as teenagers are often working to find out where they belong in life and society. If they struggle with anxiety around meeting and making new friends, they will stop themselves from being able to make these important developments.  

Feelings of anxiety around social situations can be normal for many people when preparing to meet someone important or to speak in front of a crowd. However, if these feelings grow into a constant dread and inability to endure social situations, your daughter may need help. At Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we believe it is important to monitor your daughter for symptoms of social anxiety. Being aware of what to watch for in your daughter will allow you to take the necessary steps to get treatment. 

Overcoming Social Anxiety: Symptoms to Watch For

Knowing the symptoms of social anxiety will allow you to monitor if your daughter needs further treatment or support. Social anxiety is similar to shyness but appears as an intense, persistent, chronic fear of social situations. While shy people can participate socially, social anxiety can prohibit someone from important or necessary work or school-related interactions. Physical symptoms of social anxiety may appear in social settings as: 

  • Blushing and flushness
  • Difficulty talking, such as stuttering
  • Nausea
  • Profuse sweating
  • Trembling

Watching your daughter to see if she exhibits these traits will help her in her long-term recovery. Many types of treatment can help to alleviate the problems of social anxiety. One of these therapies and treatments is drama therapy. Knowing if your daughter is struggling will help you to make the best choices to support her and get treatment. 

What Is Drama Therapy?

The journal Children (Basel) defines drama therapy as “an experiential form of psychotherapy which methodologically consists of drama and theatre processes.” Drama therapy employs the idea of dramatic play. Dramatic play encourages the person to express verbally and not, gain control of feelings, and better understand others. Drama therapy encourages using your body and voice to express your feelings.

This therapy is often done as a group and encourages working together and learning to understand others. Drama therapy is effective in working to alleviate symptoms of many forms of anxiety, as well as learning disabilities and general struggles with expressing yourself. Knowing how different treatments can help your daughter will allow you to advocate for differences to be made in her recovery. 

How Drama Therapy Can Encourage Overcoming Social Anxiety

Many types of therapy such as the ones offered at Clearview may make a difference for your daughter. Drama therapy is effective in overcoming social anxiety because of its focus on working together. The work is emotionally relieving, but it is also effective in working in social situations. Your daughter could learn to work in a team to meet the end goal of creating something based on emotional release. 

Learning to express her emotions through drama therapy will give your daughter confidence and the ability to stand up for herself and express herself to others. The physical act of performing will help your daughter work through her struggles around social situations. Performing will reframe that anxiety into excitement and pride, taking their anxiety and struggles into something creative and expressive.

Feeling anxious before a big speech or meeting someone important can be normal. When it grows into something that can’t be ignored or stops your daughter from interacting in any social situation, it is important to find ways to work toward overcoming social anxiety. Drama therapy is a form of expressive therapy in which adolescents can creatively work through difficult and overwhelming emotions. It teaches them to work together and perform through their struggles. Working to complete a performance and gaining those skills can give them the confidence that they need to overcome the struggles of social anxiety. To learn more about the benefits of drama therapy, contact Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.