Childhood Phobias

Introduction

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV) issued by the American Psychiatric

Association a phobia is defines as an irrational and intense fear to a specific object or situation

(DSM IV, 1994). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 8.7 to

18.1% of the Unites States population suffers from a phobia (Fritscher, 2014). Depending of the

patient, phobias could manifest in different ways. Some people can cope with their phobias and

even manage to get rid of them, but others cannot.

During childhood it is normal for the children to sometimes feel fear, but when this fear

becomes to irrational maybe that child suffers from a phobia. Some of the most common

symptoms of phobias are: extreme persistent terror or fear of an object or situation, shaking,

palpitations, difficulty thinking about something different than the fear, anxiety, among others

(Fritscher, 2014). If this extreme terror lasts for more that 6 month is recommendable to ask for

a doctor evaluation (Fritscher, 2014).

In this essay we are going to discuss in a brief manner the characteristics, symptoms,

treatment and recommendations for children who suffer from phobias. As the phobias become

more severe a disability could develop and the child could start experiencing problems in other

major live activities. We hope that the information we share in this essay will help other people

to identify this symptoms in their children and seek immediate advice from their doctor.

Exposition

Anxiety symptoms and fear are common in childhood and adolescence and sometimes part

of a normal developmental course. Each stage in the development of a child or youth has specific

fears that can be experienced. As an example, babies since birth up to 6 month can fell fear of
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loud noises, loss of physical support and approaching unfamiliar objects (Rhoads and Donnely,

s.f.). Children between 1 to 5 years can fear stagers, looming objects and unexpected objects

(Rhoads and Donnely, s.f.). By the age of 6 through 12 this fear could be feel to body injuries,

diseases, burglars, staying home alone, failure and punishment (Rhoads and Donnely, s.f.). In the

last stage before adulthood, youth between 12 to 18 years could feel fear about tests, school

performance, appearance and peer scrutinity (Rhoads and Donnely, s.f.).

Anxiety disorder, were the phobias are included, are among the most common mental

problem in the United States affecting approximately 7.5% of children and youth under 18 years

of age (Rhoads and Donnely, s.f.). Even though anxiety and fears could be part of our children

development, when this fear increases in intensity and occurrence a phobia could be in an early

stage of development (Fritscher, 2014). If this extreme terror lasts for more that 6 month is

recommendable to ask for a doctor evaluation (Fritscher, 2014).

Some of the most common symptoms that can help parents to identity if the fear

experience by their child is normal or phobia are the followings: heart palpitations

feeling sick, chest pains, difficulty breathing, dizziness, 'jelly legs', uneasy feeling, intense

sweating, sense of fainting, dry mouth or throat, and restricted or 'fuzzy' vision or hearing

(AnxietyCare.org, 2014). However, the symptoms that definitely point us to phobias are: extreme

persistent terror or fear of an object or situation, shaking, palpitations, difficulty thinking about

something different than the fear and anxiety (Fritscher, 2014).

One of the problems that can drive parents to seek medical treatment for their children

fears and phobias is when their daily live activities are impacted by that condition. If the fear is

not yet phobia or been a phobia is not interfering daily activities, parents can allow the normal

course of development to take care of it (AnxietyCare.org, 2014). In the cases where the phobia
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is causing a severe distress and disability, medical treatment should be the best recommendation

(AnxietyCare.org, 2014).

In order to establish a treatment or therapy, previous mental health records have to be

considered to detect if the fears are transitory or part of a severe condition. Most of the time, the

fears disappear without the need of any treatment because they are part of the normal

development. When fears are part of a manipulative response from the children to some

situations, parents should look in other different way in order to identify the problem and not in a

medical condition (AnxietyCare.org, 2014). Punishments are not a good response for handling

childhood phobias, and sometime could affect the child more.

In terms of medication, drugs are not considered as the first treatment of choice for young

children. In the first stages of development the brain neurotransmitting system is very sensitive

to medication and this is the reason why doctors refrain from giving them to children

(AnxietyCare.org, 2014). In the cases where this is the recommended treatment monitoring

dosage and sides effects are very important (AnxietyCare.org, 2014).

Conclusion

The future of children and youth who suffers from phobias could be a normal one if an

early diagnosis is done. For children and youth, as well as to all of us, fear is a normal sensation

that we cannot live without it. The problem arises when this fear is so extreme that starts to

manage our lives and changes the way we conduct our daily activities.

Parents have to pay attention to symptoms in their children and analyze if the conduct is a

part of a normal fear or as part of a more severe condition. If the fear becomes irrational, intense

and there is an increment in occurrence, help should be asked. There treatments that can be

recommended for this phobias or let them just disappear as part of a normal development.
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References

American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(4th ed.). Washington, DC.

AnxietyCare.org (2014). Children fears and phobias. Retrieved on December 11, 2014 from
http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/child.asp

Fritscher, L. (2014). Symptoms of phobias. Retrieved on December 11, 2014 from

http://phobias.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/tp/phobiasymptoms.htm

Fritscher, L. (2014). Childhood phobias. Retrieved on December 11, 2014 from

http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiasinchildren/a/Childhood-Phobias.htm

Rhoads, J. & Donnely, C. (s.f.) Anxiety disorders of childhood and adolescence, Pediatric
Psychiatry Network. Retrieved on December 11, 2014 from
http://ppn.mh.ohio.gov/Portals/0/pdf/Anxiety%20Protocol.pdf