How to Combat Teen Shyness

Societal pressures today force teenagers to grow and mature quicker than ever before. These pressures can make a teen introverted and shy. A teenager is often asked to be an adult but is not given the guidance necessary to assimilate socially. Making the teen feel at ease socially is imperative for their emotional development.

Instructions

1. Empathize with the teen. Put yourself in their shoes. Try to remember what it was like during the parent or teachers teen years. However, be careful not to project to much of one's own experiences on the teen. Because as a teen they feel that no one can understand what they are going through. If you try to put too much of your own experience into play it can cause the teen to withdraw.

2. Observe the teen in an environment with their friends. Often teens in a group assume roles within that group. In a group dynamic, the teen may have been tagged as the shy one and is playing that role. Remember this is not the only cause and separating the teen from the friends is not the answer. This observance is merely a look into one possible factor in the shyness. If the teen is the "shy one" in the group, try to draw the teen out their shell by asking the teen questions on subjects he likes.

3. Investigate the fitness level of the teen. There have been studies that have shown that teens that are active and physically fit are more likely to be socially comfortable. Often teens are faced with body image problems that result in shyness. Recommending exercise is a touchy subject because the teen can take this as reinforcement of their negative body image thoughts. An alternative is to get the teen involved in clubs that interest them rather than a physically active pastime.

4. Try to get the teen into therapy. This is another touchy issue because the teen may perceive this the thought that are a "crazy" or have psychological problems. It is important to make them understand that everyone has some issues at one time or the other. Most teens strive for that unattainable "normal" that just does not exist. It is imperative to try to convey to the teen that everyone has problems. Again maybe a person can share his or her own experience here. Possibly this person could be someone the teen looks up to, maybe a family friend, relative or classmate.

5. Be patient--nothing can more important when dealing with teens problems. Every teen resolves issues at their pace and should not be rushed. Also, do not compare a teen to a sibling, relative or friend. They each have had their own path to walk. The worst thing to do is say, "Why can you be more like your brother?" This makes the teen feel worse and could make the problem worse.

6. Consult a doctor for possible medical alternatives. When giving a teen any psychological treatment or medication proceed cautiously. Medical treatment of shyness is relatively new and still has some potential drawbacks, not the least of which is the damaging effect on the child's self-esteem.