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Childhood fears -

Whether it’s monsters under the bed or burglars breaking into the house, most, if not all, individuals experience certain fears as a child.

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Temporary problem -

Most of the time, childhood fears are temporary, and parents often find that they pass on their own.

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More serious -

Sometimes, however, childhood fears can develop into a phobia or anxiety disorder, a process that can be difficult to detect.

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Difficult to detect -

Indeed, it is precisely because childhood fears are so common that parents sometimes find it difficult to determine whether their child’s level of fear is normal, or whether something more serious is going on.

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When a fear becomes a phobia -

Fears can be classified as phobias or anxiety disorders once they become debilitating or impair daily function.

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Statistics -

We usually associate phobias and anxiety disorders with adults, but actually they are common in children, too, affecting one in every three children.

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Changing fears -

The types of fears that children experience tend to change as infants, children, and adolescents grow and adapt to new environments.

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Infants and toddlers -

Infants and toddlers, for example, are often afraid of loud noises, strange people, and being separated from their parents.

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Preschool children -

By the time they reach preschool age, fears tend to be more imaginative. They might include ghosts or monsters, for example.

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Teenagers -

Adolescent fears tend to be more along the lines of those experienced by adults. As young adults begin to have more real-world experiences, it is not uncommon to develop social anxieties.

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Key factors to consider -

If you are struggling to understand whether your child is experiencing a normal fear, or whether they may be developing an anxiety disorder, there are three main factors to consider.

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Frequency -

The first is frequency: how often is the fear occurring? If a particular fear only crops up once per year, for example, it is probably nothing serious.

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Frequency -

However, if your child is bringing up their fear on a daily basis and it is becoming a struggle, this may be an indication that an anxiety disorder is emerging.

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Intensity -

Another factor to consider is the intensity of the fear. How does your child react when a certain situation is not handled in the way they would have liked?

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Intensity -

Try giving your child’s reaction a score between 1 and 10 to help understand the severity of these instances.

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Duration -

The final key factor is duration. This one is crucial when it comes to deciding whether it’s time to seek professional support.

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Duration -

Experts recommend giving your child some time to see if the fear settles by itself or whether it persists and becomes a long-term issue.

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Six months -

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), fears must persist for at least six months before they can be diagnosed as phobias or anxiety disorders.

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In practice -

Practically, however, it may not make sense to wait six months before seeking advice, particularly if your child’s fears are making daily life very difficult.

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How parents can help -

When managing your child’s fears, it can be very tempting to intervene and shield them completely from distress.

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Thinking in the long term -

However, experts warn against this approach, since although it may provide temporary relief, in the long run it only serves to compound the child’s fear.

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Striking a balance -

Instead, parents should aim to strike a balance between acknowledging their children’s fears and discussing safety measures.

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Dealing with real-world fears -

If a child expresses fear about a real-world threat, such as a school shooting or a natural disaster, it can be difficult to know how to react.

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Creating an open dialogue -

In these instances, the general advice is to encourage an open dialogue that reduces worries or feelings of isolation and/or shame.

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Being practical - In some cases, it can help to explain the likelihood of a possible event occurring is low. Some parents also find that making a contingency plan provides reassurance.

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When to seek professional help -

If your child’s anxieties persist for longer than six months, it is important that you seek the help of a qualified professional.

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Therapy options -

When it comes to treating anxiety disorders in children, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and in particular exposure therapy, has proven very effective.

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Exposure therapy -

Exposure therapy essentially works by exposing the person to their fear in a controlled environment, starting small and increasing over time.

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How it works -

For example, if your child is scared of dogs, the therapist may begin by showing them a picture of a dog.

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Little by little -

Once they are comfortable with the picture, the therapist may move on to observing a dog through a window. Eventually, they may bring a small dog to the session for your child to interact with.

Sources: (CNN)

See also: Why do children ask so many questions?

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