Shyness, Shame, and Social Anxiety: teasing them apart

It is impossible to make sense of ourselves, never mind our children, without a clear understanding of these three important constructs. Yet increasingly, these dynamics are becoming confused with each other, with both shyness and shame losing their distinctiveness and drifting into the dark shadow of social anxiety. The impact on children can be devastating, never mind on parenting, teaching and even treatment. Teasing these dynamics apart, and reclaiming the right language to support them, has never been more important.