[Thread] Advice to parents who are dealing with kids who have social anxiety: Never take the things they love away from them if the cause of that punishment is through lack of Social Interaction. This could actually lead them into having more anxiety and even depression.

Sep 16, 2019 · 10:14 PM UTC

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If your kid ever talks to people online. They are talking to REAL people. Not made up bots. Social Interaction through the real world is essential. However, talking with people online is actually enhancing their social interaction skills.
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If the kid doesn't feel the need to talk with a person they don't feel comfortable talking with, don't force them to talk to that person. Obviously, its important for this to happen, but take it slow. Work the kid up to talking with that person.
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This is a big one. If you send your kid to a therapist because they are having trouble with social interaction. Keep them in therapy. If the kid doesn't talk in therapy, they aren't being rude. Don't punish them or be mad at them for not talking. Most likely, the kid is...
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...having trouble building up the confidence to say something. They aren't trying to be rude. If you ask the kid if they want to be removed from therapy, and they say yes. Don't remove them. Keep them in there. Unless you get an ok from the therapist to do so.