These drugs may include antidepressants, which are designed to ease the anxiety and panic that often underlie these problems.NOEL WRITES: I know people who can’t wait to grow up, but when I was sixteen and was called an adult, I cried! Humiliating but true. This would be in addition to the behavioral therapy, and not as the sole therapeutic tool. ![]() ![]() In rare cases, where behavioral therapy isn't helping enough, your child's doctor may recommend medications as art of the treatment program. Breathing and relaxation exercises can help children in stressful circumstances too.īehavior therapy is the first line of treatment of phobias. Sometimes psychotherapy can also help children become more self-assured and less fearful. Ultimately, your child will no longer feel the need to avoid the situation that has been the basis of their phobia. This gradual process is called desensitization, meaning that your child will become a little less sensitive to the source of their fear each time they confront it. Over time, they will ease into situations with larger, unfamiliar dogs. Eventually they will find themselves able to pet the dog. Then, with a parent or a therapist at their side, they might spend a few minutes in the same room with a friendly, gentle puppy. ![]() Next, they might watch a neighborhood dog from behind the safety of a window. Under a therapist's guidance, a child who is afraid of dogs might begin by talking about this fear and by looking at photos or videos of dogs. If your child's anxieties persist and interfere with their enjoyment of day-to-day life, they might benefit from meeting with a child psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in treating phobias.Īs part of the treatment plan for phobias, many therapists suggest exposing your child to the source of their anxiety in small, nonthreatening doses. Treatment for childhood fears & phobiasįortunately, most phobias are quite treatable. Their phobias can cause physical symptoms like headaches or stomach pains. These children might become afraid of going to summer camp or even attending school. Sometimes this fear can intensify when the family moves to a new neighborhood or starts a new childcare setting. Separation anxiety is also common in children. They may find it difficult to talk comfortably with anyone except their immediate family. They might consciously avoid social situations like birthday parties, club meetings or sports practices. This severe shyness can keep them from making friends at school and relating to most adults, especially strangers. Some children develop phobias about the people they meet in their everyday lives. A 10-year-old child might become so terrified about news reports of a serial killer that they insist on sleeping with his parents at night. For example, a 6-year-old's phobia about dogs might make them so panicky that they refuse to go outdoors at all because there could be a dog there. Phobias -which are strong and irrational fears -can significantly interfere with a child's usual daily activities. Sometimes, however, fears can become so extreme, persistent and focused that they develop into phobias. It will take time for them to confront and gradually move beyond their anxieties. It also a good idea to create a family media plan.ĭo not belittle or ridicule your child's fears, particularly in front of their peers.ĭo not try to pressure your child into being brave. This includes exposure to frightening images in movies, online videos and violent video games. Explain to them that many children have fears, but with your support they can learn to overcome them. ![]() Talk with your child about their anxieties, and be sympathetic. Here are some suggestions that many parents find useful to help their children with fears. How parents can help ease their child's fears But even when they get worse, with reassurance and support, they generally go away on their own after a while. If there has been a recent serious illness or death in the family, they may become anxious about the health of those around them. Others, conscious of media images, are concerned about war or terrorism. Some children are afraid of fires, high places or thunderstorms. So is a fear of animals, such as large barking dogs. As children grow and explore the world around them, facing new experiences and challenges, occasional fears are common.Ī fear of being alone in the dark, for example, is a common childhood fear.
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