Back to School Health - School Phobia
Similar to Homesickness, but with Physical Symptoms
School Phobia is a fear of school so strong that the child develops physical symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, nausea, and intestinal pains. It is a fear that is not easily thwarted and it takes time and patience to resolve.
Irrational Fears
At first glance, one might think the child who is fearful of school should basically, get over it. The fear may appear as irrational and unsubstantiated. Attempting to regulate the fear by negating the feelings will result in magnification of the problem.
The child is not making up the outward manifestations of the stress related symptoms. The child is afraid, and whether the fear is rational or not, is not the point. The point is that the fear must be acknowledge and explored.
Stress Response
Fear will cause stress. Stress in turn will immediately manifest into symptoms:
- Heart palpitations
- Sweaty hands
- Shortness of breath
- Body tremors
Possible Causes
It has been found that the most susceptible are children between the ages of 8 and 13. They are often very sensitive and have difficulty handling their feelings. The fear could be associated with specific activities such as riding the school bus or speaking in front of the class.
For many children, separating from their parents can be a difficult task resulting in severe separation anxiety. In others, the fear is supported by a dislike of school, bullying behavior, lack of school friends, or feeling as if they do not belong.
The pattern usually begins upon awakening, the child is getting ready for school, and exhibits symptoms of illness. As the time approaches to leave for school, the symptoms worsen giving rise to another day at home.
What to Look for
It is important for the parent to monitor for and document the following information:
- When do the symptoms appear?
- Do the symptoms generally appear on Monday mornings or every morning?
- Are the symptoms present on the weekend?
- What are the symptoms?
- Does anything improve the symptoms?
- What makes the symptoms worse?
- Does the child verbalize any concerns about school?
- Are there any changes in the child's overall behavior?
School phobia is common when children first enter the school system and if not resolved most likely will resurface in both junior and high school. Children who do not exhibit symptoms of physical illness could focus their anxiety in other ways:
- Missing homework assignments
- Skipping class
- Sleep disturbances
- Poor eating
- Disorganization
- Depression
Role of the Doctor
The physical manifestations of stress are very real and should not be ignored. However, upon the initial complaint, the child should be taken to his doctor for a check-up to rule-out any organic problem.
It is only after the doctor has given the child a clean bill-of-health should other causes be considered. For example, make an appointment with the school psychologist to discuss the situation, and explore other options.
Talk to the Child
According to Dr. B.D. Schmitt, MD, author of "Your Child's Health," a child suffering from school phobia needs to attend school every day and face his fears. Additionally, he recommends that parents talk to their children about their concerns. Lastly, involve the school staff, such as the teacher and the school nurse, who can encourage the child during school.
In contrast, Dr. Maureen Hogan, Ph.D., Nassau County Psychological Association found that research suggests children with such phobias exhibit emotional symptoms such as moodiness, anxiety, aggressiveness, and become isolated and withdrawn.
It is her belief that the school psychologist becomes involved in an intervention program based on modifying the child's daily activities. This would include but not limit:
- Short counseling sessions
- Involvement in an activity the child enjoys
- Explore stress-reduction activities both at home and in the school
In conclusion, getting to the root-cause of the anxiety and finding solutions to resolve the problem is the best cause of action. The problem needs to be corrected early on in a child's life to prevent its resurfacing during junior high and high school.
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