Phobias
Before you read the webpage please read the following notes:
NOTE 1 – We are giving you an overview of this condition in a question and answer format so you have some information for when you talk to a health professional. We have not discussed how to diagnose this condition, the types of treatment available for this condition and how you as the parent can help your child. We will leave that for a professional to discuss with you when a healthcare plan or special educational needs plan is being written for your child once they have been diagnosed.
NOTE 2 – Children can suffer from more than one condition at any one time. This is known as comorbid.
NOTE 3 – The exact cause of many of the conditions we have written about is unknown. Research is continuing. There can often be a genetic component which when inherited can make an individual prone to the condition. There are also other factors which can play a part in the development of the condition and can trigger it. We have detailed these factors in each write up.
NOTE 4 – Education for children with special education needs and disabilities is written elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below to access it.
WHAT IS A PHOBIA?
A phobia is a mental illness where a child will exhibit extreme and out of proportion fear, anxiety, panic and distress about a situation (being in a lift) or an object (a spider) on a consistent basis (for longer than 6 months). A phobia is a specific type of anxiety disorder.
A phobia can have a huge impact on a child’s life.
Phobias affect boys and girls equally.
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR PHOBIAS – OVERVIEW
WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES A CHILD WITH A PHOBIA DISPLAY?
The exact symptoms an individual with a phobia will display depend upon the source of your phobia. However general physical symptoms that can apply to most phobias are:
- Feeling nauseous and throwing up
- Hot flush
- Fast breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Palpitations
- Fainting
- Dizzy
- Lightheaded
- Faster heart rate
- Upset stomach
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Unsteadiness
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR SYMPTOMS – PHOBIAS
ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE A PHOBIA BORN WITH IT OR IS IT ACQUIRED?
Similar to many mental health disorders, the exact cause of a phobia is unknown. However, there may be a genetic element to it and it could be inherited but there are many factors which play a part in its development in the child. They are:
- A severe traumatic event
- Abuse
- Death of a close person
- Severe injury or illness
- Family breakdown
- Neglect and abandonment
- A history of mental illness
WHEN DO MOST CHILDREN FIRST DISPLAY THE SIGNS OF A PHOBIA?
Phobias can start in early childhood but they mostly develop in children aged 15 years above.
Childhood phobias should not be confused with development of a child’s neurological system which alerts them to danger and they have a fear response.
CAN A PHOBIA GO AWAY, BE CURED OR PREVENTED?
Phobia is treatable and the condition can be managed and controlled. Agoraphobia cannot be prevented.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHOBIAS?
The different types of phobias are:
1. Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders
2. Algophobia is the fear of pain
3. Astraphobia is the fear of storms and being struck by lightning
4. Astrapophobia is the fear of thunder
5. Acrophobia is the fear of heights
6. Agoraphobia is the fear of crowds and open spaces
LINK TO OUR L.I.P WEBSITE FOR AGORAPHOBIA
7. Aerophobia is the fear of flying or draughts
8. Ailurophobia is the fear of cats.
9. Amaxophobia is the fear of riding in a car
10. Aquaphobia is the fear of water
11. Automysophobia is the fear of being dirty
12. Bathophobia is the fear of falling from a height
13. Bibliophobia is the fear of books
14. Cynophobia is the fear of dogs
15. Cenophobia is the fear of empty spaces
16. Climacophobia is the fear of falling down a flight of stairs
17. Cyberphobia is the fear of computer
18. Claustrophobia is the fear of confined spaces
19. Dromophobia is the fear of crossing the street
20. Entomophobia is the fear of insects
21. Graphophobia is the fear of writing
22. Heliophobia is the fear of sunlight
23. Hydrophobia is the fear of water
24. Hypsophobia is the fear of high places
25. Lygophobia is the fear of darkness
26. Monophobia is the fear of being alone
27. Muriphobia is the fear of mice
28. Necrophobia is the fear of corpses
29. Nyctophobia is the of the night od darkness
30. Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes
31. Ombrophobia is the fear of rain
32. Ornithophobia is the fear birds
33. Pantophobia is the fear of everything
34. Phagophobia is the fear of eating
35. Phengophobia is the fear of daylight
36. Photophobia is the fear of light
37. Psychrophobia is the fear of the cold
38. Pyrophobia is the fear of fire
39. Social phobia is the fear of rejection and being judged. This is also called social anxiety disorder.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
40. Sciaphobia is the fear of shadows
41. Scotophobia is the fear of the dark
42. Sitophobia is the fear of food and eating
43. Trypanophobia is the fear of needles and injections
44. Technophobia is the fear of technology
45. Thanatophobia is the fear of death
46. Toxiphobia is the fear of being poisoned
47. Zoophobia is the fear of animals
WHO DO YOUR CONTACT FOR HELP IF YOU FEEL YOUR CHILD HAS A PHOBIA?
Contact your GP immediately – Your GP will arrange for your child to be assessed if they have a phobia. Your GP will then arrange for your child to have the correct support, medication, therapy and treatment to manage and control the condition. They will also inform you of any lifestyle changes you may need to make and refer you for further help if you need it.
Contact the school SEN department – The SEN department (special educational needs) at school will take your concerns seriously and help you. Please read the next section below.
IS A PHOBIA CONSIDERED A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEED (SEN)?
A child suffering from a phobia can be considered as one with special educational needs (SEN) if the issues the child is suffering from make education and learning much more difficult than other children of the same age.
Talk to the SEN department at your child’s school. There will be a special teacher there called a SENCO (special SEN coordinator) who looks after the welfare of all SEN children at the school and they will be able to advise you further.
WHERE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
You can contact NSPCC – If your child has a phobia you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about your concerns that your child has a phobia.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
You can contact SUPPORTLINE – Supportline can provide confidential emotional support over the phone about your concerns if your child has a phobia. Their helpline number is 01708 765 200. You can also email them.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SUPPORTLINE – CONTACT US
You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
You can contact other organisations –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 16 – CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has a phobia and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.