Shyness, nervousness and feelings of self-consciousness can all be natural feelings in the teenager going through the stages of adolescence.

Some teens are shy on such occasions as, answering questions in class at school, maybe nervous at asking an attractive girl out for a date, or be self-conscious at being in the company of strangers.

But some teens are so extremely shy that they refuse to speak to unfamiliar people, and are uneasy about visiting strange places, this extreme shyness is tantamount to a social phobia, and has the name Selective Mutism.

Whilst teens suffering from selective mutism tend to behave normally with people they know or places they are familiar with, other situations can cause them extreme discomfort and anxiety to the point where they refuse to talk at all, and become ‘hangdog’

How Do Teens Develop Social Phobia?

The condition seems to develop when a teenager is young, and the cause is associated with three main factors.

The Biological Makeup of the Teen. Inherited traits can be transferred genetically from the teens parents or close relatives and influences how the brain regulates the shyness nervousness and stress anxiety reactions.

Some teens are born with a nervous temperament and prefer familiar people and surroundings, most teens who develop a social phobia have always had this kind if shy temperament.

Behavior Learned From Parents. The parents of the teen may be of a shy nature themselves, and the teen will be heavily influenced in its behavior by the attitude of the parents.

If the parents see shyness in the youngster, then they may become overprotective to his/her shyness, and the teen will not learn to be come accustomed to new people or places.

Shy parents may themselves avoid certain social interactions, so the young person will learn that such occasions are uncomfortable and consequently avoid such situations him/her self.

Experiences and Life Events. If the teen is naturally of a shy or cautious nature and experiences pressure or stressful events in life, then it can prompt the teen to become even more shy and cautious.

If the teen is continually pressured to interact in social situations in which she/he is not completely at ease, then it is more likely that the person will develop a social anxiety or phobia.

Any teenager suffering from social phobia or selective mutism, should not despair, with the right sort of counseling they can be taught to overcome their nervousness and shyness, and develop the degree of confidence required to live a normal life.

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