How to Treat Child Phobias

Photo, courtesy of stock.xching

Fears come and go during childhood, and overcoming them teaches children the needed skills to deal with problems in the adult world. Occasionally, however, a fear will fester, becoming unreasonable. At that point, the child has developed a phobia and may need help in dealing with it. Whether the catalyst is the dark, spiders, strangers or cats, child phobias are no laughing matter.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Treat animal phobias by slowly introducing your child to the animal that frightens them. Draw a stick figure of the animal and as the child feels more comfortable, present drawings that are more accurate, followed by actual photos. Increase the child's exposure to the animal gradually through videos, then viewing through glass, through an open door and finally in the same room.

2. Show patience in dealing with child phobias. It may take months or even years for a child to overcome his fear. Pressuring him before he is ready may backfire.

3. Understand the intense panic a child with claustrophobia feels. When enclosed in a small space, she may exhibit sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, lightheadedness and nausea. Successful treatment often includes professional therapy to help the child face underlying fears.

4. Learn to recognize the symptoms of phobias. When confronted with the object of his fear, a child may experience physical symptoms that are very real. Hyperventilating, dizziness and chest pain are included in a long list of physical symptoms related to phobias (see Resources below).

5. Enlist professional help if your child's phobia is keeping her from leading a full productive life. No child should have to suffer needlessly when help is available.

6. Consider hypnotherapy for children with phobias. A therapist that uses hypnosis to treat phobias will employ desensitizing methods while the patient is under hypnosis to introduce him gradually to the object of his fear.

7. Determine what a normal fear in a child is. Before the age of two, loud noises, strange objects and separation from parents will startle toddlers. Until they are six or seven, they may be afraid of monsters, ghosts and other supernatural things. After the age of seven, fears generally form around more realistic incidents, such as auto accidents, storms and public speaking.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't hesitate to seek professional help for a child that develops a phobia if it lingers or if it interrupts her enjoyment of life.

Resources

• Extensive information and resources for child phobias