I did think of one constructive thing that we do sometimes, that helps. I expect to drag it back out in the time of acne and general puberty, as well.
When DS worries about people looking at him, thinking bad things about him, etc., I ask him what he thinks the other people are thinking. Do you think they are thinking how much they hate you, or how you look funny? Let me tell you what they are thinking. They are thinking, I wonder if I have bad breath, does anyone notice my pants are too short, boy am I hungry, I wonder if I should call that girl, (and the one that always makes him giggle) oops I just farted, I wonder if anyone knows it was me, I'll just walk away now.
The point I keep hammering at until he laughs and I know he gets it is that everybody is wrapped up in their own thoughts and their own worries, and usually they don't have time to be worrying about somebody else.
