Best Way to Judge Whether a Child Has Phobia

Phobias are similar to normal fears, but more per­vasive. For instance, a child who fears cats may cross to the other side of the street to avoid one. But a child who has a phobia about cats will have a much more serious problem. It is not just that the child avoids coming close to cats: the child cries when she sees a cat on television, when she sees a picture of a cat in a book, or even when another child casually mentions a cat.

To judge whether your child’s fear is a harmless phase that she is likely to outgrow, or whether it is a phobia, consider the following points:

• Fear at the mere thought. A child who has a fear will show anxiety only when she actually experiences the dreaded event. A child with a phobia will become terribly upset even at the thought of the event.
• Intensity of fear. In most cases, a child’s fear will pass within a few minutes, and she will then settle down. A child with a phobia will remain terrified for much longer, perhaps for several hours.
• Impact. Fears usually have very little impact on a child’s life, except for the few minutes when the child has a face-to-face encounter with the object of her fear. Phobias are more sweeping and may take over the child’s life, to the point where she is too afraid to cross the threshold of her home.
• Resistance. Most children can be helped to overcome their fears quite quickly, and welcome their parents’ support in this. Phobias are much more resistant to change, tending to persevere despite all efforts to remove them.

If you think your child’s anxiety is a normal childhood fear, then (if you are right) it will almost certainly pass as your child grows older and more confident. If you think her anxiety is a pho­bia, then (if you are right) it may have greater psychological sig­nificance, and merits closer consideration. Such fearful behavior may be a symptom of a deep-rooted insecurity. You should look closely at your child’s life to establish the underlying cause of her behavior. Genuine phobias are rare in childhood. Sometimes psy­chological advice may be necessary to help the child overcome the difficulty; this can be arranged through your pediatrician.