Children Phobias, children's fears, child anxiety, children's nightmares, child phobia list of phobias

Childhood is full of new experiences and sometimes a traumatic event can cause your child to develop a specific phobia. The first thing parents must realize is that a phobia is different than a transient fear.

A phobia will typically last six months or more while a transient fear will often fade over a short period of time.

Scientists believe that children Develop Phobias as an end result of a traumatic first experience with an object or situation. They feel that there are both environmental and genetic factors involved with children who develop phobias.

Research is being done to identify if a person is genetically predisposed to developing phobias rather than others who lose their fear of said object or situation over time.

Symptoms to Watch out for if You Think Your Child has a Phobia:

Children who are exposed to the phobic situation or object will exhibit symptoms that will enable a professional to identify if it is truly a phobia. As all children are different, so will the way their experience symptoms.

Things to look out for are when they are confronted with their fears are:

An increase in the rate of their heart.
Shaking or evident trembling. They may sweat or feel faint or dizzy. They might find it hard to catch their breath or they may feel as if they are choking. They may experience pain or stomach upset or feel discomfort in their chest.

Some children experience hot flashes or chills. Other children will feel they are losing control and fear they are going crazy
Many phobia symptoms mimic other more serious psychiatric or medical conditions and you are well advised to consult with your child's pediatrician to get the proper diagnosis.

Various Treatment Options if your Child is Diagnosed as Phobic. The treatment options for children that suffer from phobias will be decided on a few factors:

The attending physician will want to examine your child to be sure they are not suffering from an underlying medical condition. The age of the child is a large factor as well.

The physician will want to hear your opinions as well as what you expect to happen over the course of treatment. They will ask such questions as the type of phobia your child is suffering with and what are the symptoms you have observed when your child is confronted with the situation or object causing the phobic reaction.

The attending physician will also need to explore the tolerance your child has to certain medications, therapies or other types of procedures. Phobias like any other anxiety-based condition can be treated effectively once you and your child's health care provider decide on a treatment program.

They will learn behavior modification and the tools needed to cope when they are presented with an object or situation that is the cause of their phobia.