My step daughter suffers from Social Anxiety Disorder. She is 19 now and has had councelling in the past. After 5 years away from the world ( her mother took her out of school and basically isolated her until her mother left the picture) she went back to school and made many positive steps. However she has no social skills, often angry and rude and even though she is enrolled in college, I am afraid she won't make it. She can't get a job as she can't conduct an interview and with her negative outlook on everything she just sits around not engaging in any family activities. Her father, sister and I want her to become an independant and happy young woman. We don't know how to do this. Any suggestions?

artistall

The world is not an easy place to navigate even for those who are well balanced and firmly planted. There must be a social level that she can feel really comfortable in. The hard part will be to find that level. It would be a good thing for you to spend one on one time with her out and about so that she can see how you navigate in society and perhaps start to adopt some of your social skills as her own. If she has physical or appearance abnormalities then her anxiety might be understood more easily. Finding the root of her negativity will be a positive step in her recovery. She needs to move on from whatever negative platform she is on. Many people experience adolescent awkwardness and so it would also be important for you to recognize and separate that from the diagnosed disorder. Create more social setting at home to give her a chance to mix and mingle. It really is a very complex issue. Good Luck!

fredg

Hi,
I would suggest making an appointment to see, with her going also, a professional in this particular field; even a psychiatrist.
Perhaps some type of anti-depressant medication, on the advise of the doctor, would be in order.
I do think professional help is needed. This is a job for a professional, and has deep-rooted reasons for this type of behavior, and it might be completely futile to try solving it without it.
Best of luck,
fredg