Children with phobias often cannot leave the house, enjoy certain situations, or approach certain places/ objects.
Many children under the age of 10 display aggression and oppositionality when anxious.
Children with phobias will try to avoid the situation.
Whether it's a bee sting, a weather event, or a traumatic needle stick injury, you can often find phobias activating.
Children's fear is a normal reaction, and fear is usually an exaggerated, irrational and extreme reaction that can prevent children from functioning normally and enjoying their childhood.
Fear that is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the object or situation.
For example, it is normal to be afraid of gastrointestinal colds, but some children have a phobia of vomiting, so they cannot go to restaurants to eat, or even eat at all. Another example is the normal childhood fear of bad weather. Children with severe weather phobia often cannot go outside or go to school, even if they see gray clouds.
What are children’s normal fears?
2-4 year old: fear of animals, fear of strangers, separation anxiety .
4-6 years old : Fear of supernatural creatures, darkness, animals and separation.
7-10 years old : is afraid of natural weather events, the death of his parents or his own death.
10-12 years old : is afraid of displeasing parents or teachers, of failing in school, and of losing friends.
12-15 year old : is socially anxious and afraid of being embarrassed in public.
How do I know if my child has a phobia?
Symptoms: Anxiety in children does not always appear in the same way as in adults. Many children under the age of 10 act aggressively and oppositionally when anxious. I have seen extremely anxious children hit their siblings, peers, parents, and teachers. If your child only exhibits aggressive / tantrums / moodiness under very specific circumstances, an anxiety disorder may be suspected. Older children and adolescents experience more pronounced and severe anxiety, crying, and panic attacks when encountering phobia triggers.
Desire to escape: A child with a phobia will try to escape the situation. They will run away, begging to leave, fighting for their way out. They will beg and make excuses if they can avoid going to a place that scares them. Children with school phobia will report that they have stomachaches, headaches and vomiting. Children with snake phobia refuse to go to the zoo.
Function: Find out if your child's anxiety is affecting their functioning. Can your child still play with peers, eat well, and sleep well? Can your child go to school, look forward to family activities, and get along with others? Children with phobias often cannot leave home or go to certain places, enjoy certain situations, or approach certain / objects. For example, children with entomophobia will not go out to play.
Duration / Development: Has your child been worried about this object / situation, or has he suddenly become anxious? When it comes to phobias, we can often find activation of the phobia, whether it's a bee sting, a severe weather event, or a traumatic needle stick injury. If a child is afraid of ghosts for a few weeks (as often happens around Halloween), we don't worry. Our main concern was a phobia that lasted for over six months.
Can phobia be treated?
Mental health professionals ( usually a psychologist or psychiatrist ) who successfully treat phobias receive cognitive behavioral This therapy has the greatest evidence of resolving phobias. Primarily therapy will involve gradual exposure to the feared object / condition. For example, for children who are afraid of insects, we start by talking about insects, then look at pictures of insects, then draw insects, then play with insect toys, and finally, increase the time we go out to see insects.Therapists have been working to help your child relax and encounter insects through talking, breathing, and playing. Each child's treatment plan will be individualized to maximize success. You will be an active participant in your child's treatment plan.
