Being shy is normal. A shy person may feel uncomfortable around others, or even self-conscious. He may feel nervous, timid, or insecure. Shyness affects the way a person feels and behaves around others. Physical sensations such as blushing, feeling speechless, shaky or breathless may be felt by the shy person.

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Feeling of shyness may be caused by facing new situations such as meeting someone new, being in a new school, or speaking in front of a group of people. Usually shyness occurs when a person isn't sure how to act or how others will react. The person may be unsure of what will happen. Actually, shyness has two direct origins. One is genetics. One usually thinks of genetics determining physical traits and body types, but genes also influence certain personality traits. The genetic tendency to be naturally shy is inherited by about 20% of the people. The second factor is life experiences. A bad experience may succeed in creating a shy person. Being pushed into unknown circumstances can also cause shyness. Teasing and bullying can also lead to shyness. However, it is a fact that shyness is a normal occurring action.

What if a child becomes overly shy to the point that he/she cannot interact in social situations that interfere with everyday functioning? Then shyness becomes a problem. A new study published in the Pediatrics Journal finds that about 1 child in 10 of today's children show signs of a troubling anxiety disorder that can be mistaken for extreme shyness. This condition may be called "social phobia' or "social anxiety disorder." These children are afraid and avoid situations where they believe others are watching them. Everyday social situations, such as the classroom cause them to become overwhelmingly anxious and self-conscious. A child may worry for days or even weeks before a dreaded situation arrives like a play or report to be made to the class. Males and females are affected equally with this disorder.

Although medications are available, it is generally agreed that two different types of treatments are more effective.
1.    Behavioral treatment appears to have long-lasting benefits.
a.    Cognitive behavioral therapy helps understanding and changing the thought patterns as well as learning to recognize and replace panic-causing thoughts.
b.    Systematic desensitization or exposure therapy teaches the child to relax, imagine the things that cause anxiety, and gradually working one's way through the fears.
c.    Social skills training is a group therapy technique in which role playing and modeling techniques are used.
2.    Lifestyle changes may help reduce shyness.
a.    Regular exercise, adequate, sleep, and regularly scheduled meals often decrease anxiety in a child.
b.    Be aware of medication the child is taking.

Parents will need to realize that social anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition, but treatment such as psychological counseling, medication, and learning copings skill can help their child to gain confidence and improve his/her ability to interact with others.