Is your child afraid of certain animals, storms, heights, water, blood, the dark, or medical procedures, among other things?
If yes, what should you do?
Phobia is a severe, irrational fear of a specific object, such as a cat, or a situation, such as being afraid of the dark.
Parents may notice that their children weep, become overly clinging, or try to hide under a parent's or an object's legs. To express their dissatisfaction, they may throw tantrums.
Each child may have different symptoms when exposed to a phobia. But these are the most common:
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling of choking
- Chest, pain or discomfort
- Upset stomach
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of dying
- Numbness
- Chills or hot flashes
A panic attack could be occurring in a youngster who exhibits at least four of the signs. These signs and symptoms could be mistaken for those of other health issues. Consult your child's healthcare practitioner for a diagnosis.
Children often believe they are the only one in their class who suffers from a phobia, which can influence which friends they see and which activities they participate in. Phobias can have a negative impact on a child's development, and if left untreated, a childhood phobia can last until adulthood.
Finding and treating a phobia as soon as possible can help to relieve symptoms. It may help in your child's normal development. It can also help your child's quality of life.
Behavioral therapy is used to treat phobias; medication is rarely prescribed. Phobia is highly treatable with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). A typical process requires gradually and repeatedly exposing oneself to the feared object, event, or situation.
Bring your child to all therapy appointments. Encourage your child to take small steps forward and praise your child for his or her efforts to cope with fears and worry.
Parental love and support are usually very important in the healing process. So, encourage them even more. Be patient; it takes time for the therapist to work and for the children to feel better.
Seeking a therapist for your child? Click here to contact us.
References:
NEWS MEDICAL LIFE SCIENCES (Dr Liji Thomas, MD) – Phobia in Children.
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Phobias-in-Children.aspx
abcNEWS (Lauren Cox) - Extreme Child Phobias: More Than Fear, Sometimes Dangerous, Even Deadly
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/AnxietyDisorders/extreme-child-phobias-fear-dangerous-deadly/story?id=6887215
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