All about Social Anxiety Disorder

The essence of being a child lies in the innocence of ignorance of the world. This, while it can seem rather obvious, is less common than you might think. A study shows that over 89% of children come from ‘difficult’ backgrounds, more often than not, children are impacted by the smallest, and some may say insignificant incidents. 

Children tend to look up to their caregivers or role models, imitating behaviors, without being fully informed of the consequences that follow. 

Shaping the child means sculpting their mindset, and every other relationship they will ever have, in these crucial matters, it is absolutely imperative that children grow up with positive role models, by suggesting that, I don’t mean the well-known mother-daughter duo from Gilmore Girls or any other ‘pretentious’ family on TV; that’s far too idealistic for the extremely plagued and beautifully flawed world we live in since mistakes are only human. 

In a world full of competition, in every aspect, from school to office settings, children, even teenagers are very dependent on their caregivers for support in every one of these facets, fostering and nurturing a positive relationship will only allow a person to grow into a more confident and possibly successful individual. The more love and support they are shown in their immediate surroundings, the more comprehensive they are to the changes in their lives, be it the death of a close relative or even not doing so well on a test. 

The very sense of belonging begins at home, if that isn't provided in a safe nurturing environment, one can't expect a child to automatically learn these feelings when circumstances change. These tendencies of abandonment and/or emotional distancing are more often than not projected onto their future relationships, tainting each one of their bonds with a hint of an incomplete childhood. This is a very serious issue that could be eliminated completely with just a little more mindfulness, being a constant presence in a child's life, (without any terms or conditions), may just make all the difference needed to improve the future of this individual, marginally. `

Fostering healthy relationships with children is essential to developing a sense of morality and contributing to the well-being of the child, both emotionally and socially. All in all, it is imperative for parents to step up and provide children with a better quality of life that lies far beyond their monetary means.

-Aanya Mehta