Specific Phobias in Children and Adolescents

Specific Phobias affect more than 1 in 10 youth. Specific Phobias are characterized by intense, excessive fear of certain things or situations that has lasted for at least 6 months. In children and adolescents, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.

Common phobias include dogs, spiders, heights, the dark, small spaces (e.g., elevators), tunnels, water, transportation (e.g., airplanes, buses, long car rides), vomiting, loud noises, injections, and injuries involving blood.

Symptoms

  • Major symptoms include feelings of intense, excessive fear as a result of specific things or situations
  • Many adolescents describe their fear as irrational, believing that the intensity of the fear is much greater than the danger associated with the thing – however, younger children may not recognize that their fear is excessive or irrational
  • Although some kids are able to interact with the feared situation or object, many avoid any contact as a way of reducing their fear and worry
  • This avoidance may cause individuals to alter their lives (e.g., taking a different route to school to avoid walking by a certain dog, avoiding going to the doctor for a long time to prevent having to get a shot), leading to disruption of family routines and activities, missing out on otherwise enjoyable events, and medical complications.

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