Teenager Nervous to Go Out: How to Help?

Ans: Dear Avinash,
I hear you. It's hard to watch one's own child go through any pain or anguish. Since I am not aware of how old your daughter is, I may not be able to give you pointed suggestions but can generally suggest here.
Exams, peer pressure, bullying, sudden changes at home/school/college, relocating homes, changing schools, death or loss of a loved one...anything can cause anxiety or trigger anxiety.
If your daughter is school/college going, find out if something has happened there for her to feel this anxiety.
A change of scene might help but if the root of the problem is not eliminated, then the anxiety is here to stay.
Ensure that she gets a lot of playtime (if she is that age) OR she indulges in sports or physical activity (if she's much older)...the body displaces and releases stress with a lot of movement. Nature, music, having a supportive environment at home can go a long way in easing the symptoms related to anxiety.
Also, talk to her a lot to ensure her that whatever is causing her to feel anxious, will most certainly pass.
If the symptoms persist, kindly consult with an expert or a professional who can deal with these cases.

All the best!

Ans: I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is struggling with fear and anxiety related to death. It's understandable that she would be scared, especially if she has experienced the loss of a loved one at a young age.

Here are some suggestions for ways to help your daughter feel more comfortable and ease her worries:

Listen and validate her feelings: It's important to let your daughter know that it's okay to feel scared and worried. Listen to her concerns and validate her feelings by acknowledging them. You can say things like "I understand that you're feeling scared right now, and it's okay to feel that way."

Reassure her: Let your daughter know that you and her other loved ones are doing everything you can to stay healthy and safe. You can also reassure her that most people live long, healthy lives and that it's unlikely that anything bad will happen to her or her family members anytime soon.

Teach her coping skills: You can help your daughter learn coping skills to manage her anxiety. For example, you can teach her deep breathing exercises, visualization techniques, or mindfulness practices. You can also encourage her to engage in activities that she enjoys and that help her feel calm and relaxed, such as reading, drawing, or playing outside.

Seek professional help: If your daughter's anxiety persists and is interfering with her daily life, it may be helpful to seek professional help. A mental health professional who specializes in working with children can help your daughter develop coping skills and work through her fears in a safe and supportive environment.

Remember that it's important to be patient and understanding with your daughter as she works through her fears. With your support and guidance, she can learn to manage her anxiety and feel more comfortable and secure.

Ans: It looks like social anxiety to me. It needs a detailed analysis. To start with you can expose him to different set of children of his age,in the beginning it can be small group of one or two people and gradually to bigger groups. Let him learn the basic rules of games and turn taking activities too. Let him have more his choice of activities where he can be involved and have fun with peers.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
At 24, if she is still looking for validation from the external world to create her identity, she's again setting herself up for failure. If she still thinks that money, name and fame is what is going to earn her recognition from the society, she really needs a course that will change her mindset.
As parents, kindly call out such behavior that is messing with her mind. Talk therapy or advice from home isn't going to help anymore...she hasn't had much exposure of what the outside world is like...
Every stream of education brings with it many opportunities that can be explored!
My suggestion would be for her to be part of activities, communities and the like where she will be able to interact with different people from various backgrounds...Even volunteering opportunities can give good exposure...
Now, she may not be willing to do this as she finds comfort in what she is doing by shutting herself from the outside world...again 'CALL OUT' this behavior and that you as parents don't support her self-pity tirade. Also, as parents you can become part of any community or volunteering opportunity that 'shows' her that her parents are not just preaching to her but actually living it...
Just to reiterate, do not feel sorry for her; she will thrive on that sympathy...if you want to see a change in her, then it's time to shake things up so she knows that her parents mean business...remember, she is an adult...so, treat her as one!

Ans: There can be some sensory issues in children. Many a times Children have some aversion towards loud sounds if they have not been exposed to loud sounds. Instead of just removing the loud sounds,we can try to introduce her to loud sounds which she can bear and gradually increase the decibels. Once she gets used to it . Don't be in haste ,it has to be done gradually. Introduction to small social groups and gradually to bigger group too can be one way to get her comfortable.