School Phobia: When School Becomes A Problem

As children, many people are afraid of the dark, certain animals and natural phenomena such as thunderstorms. In most cases, those fears go away as they get older. However, there is one fear that is very difficult for children to deal with: the school phobia.

Phobias are called “evolutionary fears”. What happens if one stays with you too long and is so extreme that it actually disrupts your life? Since education is such an integral part of childhood and adolescence, the school phobia can certainly do that.

What exactly is a school phobia?

School phobia is the irrational and excessive fear of school or certain school-related things. This can lead to children having a lot of trouble going to school or staying there all day.

School phobia can be caused by:

• the rejection of classmates or teachers
• academic performance issues
• frequent school changes
• problems at home
• certain diseases and the associated symptoms

All of these situations can lead to an anxiety attack, along with motor, physiological and cognitive changes.

Cognitive Symptoms

One of the main symptoms of the school phobia is school-related negative thoughts. A child may also begin to anticipate negative consequences for no reason (for example, being punished by the teacher).

A child with school phobia is likely to have a negative view of his or her school performance. In addition, they may become fixated on their fear of vomiting, passing out, or experiencing other physical symptoms in front of their classmates.

Motor Symptoms

The main motor symptom is avoidance. To put it more clearly, a child with this phobia will engage in a struggle (verbal or physical) when it comes time to go to school.

They can say they’re in pain or sick, can’t get out of bed, don’t get dressed, or don’t eat breakfast, and that sort of thing. They really just don’t want to do any routine to get ready for school. Even if they do go to school, they may cry, scream or cling to their parents so they don’t have to go inside.

Physiological Symptoms

Some of the most common physiological symptoms are sweating, muscle tension, stomach pain, diarrhea and dizziness.

School Phobia vs Separation Anxiety

To know if your child has a school phobia, you must first understand the difference between separation anxiety and school phobia. Separation anxiety is a child’s fear of being away from the people with whom they have a strong emotional connection, usually their parents.

It can happen at any time, such as when they go to school, go on a field trip, or even right before a sleepover with a friend. So you need to know exactly why your child does not want to go to school. If the root of their fear is separation anxiety, they probably don’t have school phobia.

How do you deal with school phobia?

There are several techniques and methods to help a child overcome this phobia. According to many studies, the most effective techniques are based on cognitive behavioral psychology. This field works on the premise that changing your thoughts leads to changes in behavior and vice versa.

The most common methods are:

• Systematic desensitization. This can be especially helpful if your child is trying to avoid going to school. The technique works by only gradually exposing your child to his or her fear. The goal is to slowly reduce their fear so that they can see that nothing bad is going to happen.
• Social Skills Training. Part of a child’s anxiety may have to do with rejection from a classmate. If so, you can help your child learn social skills so that they are better able to build relationships with the other kids at school.
• Cognitive Restructuring. Restructuring involves changing the child’s irrational or exaggerated beliefs. This will make the child change his or her negative view of school, or it will become a more positive and realistic view.

• relaxation training. Learning to use relaxation techniques can help a child manage anxiety-related physiological symptoms.

Using medication to treat school phobia

The main goal of school phobia treatment is for your child to stop feeling fear, apprehension, or any other discomfort. While doctors may prescribe medications (usually antidepressants) in some cases, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of taking that path.

In fact, some research suggests that the side effects of these drugs do not justify their use, as certain therapies have been shown to be effective. Therapy is generally the best, most effective option, and certainly the one with the most potentially long-lasting results.