It is natural for children to feel afraid. Imagine looking up with everything double, triple or quadruple your size – that is certainly terrifying. Fear is to be expected in children. One reason is because they still have an immature nervous system. It is also because feeling afraid is a natural reaction when something is beyond their experience or understanding. Most of these fears are overcome in time.

New fears can be developed by children while growing up. These too will be outgrown. When a fear persists, however, it is important to pay attention. Your little one may not be able to tell you why they are afraid. Observing their symptoms and how their fear, panic or phobia is interfering in their everyday life is important because you will be their voice when you seek professional help.

Growing Up with Fear

Newborns crying out scared of the unknown, toddlers scurrying in fright upon hearing an unusual sound or witnessing a strange sight, like hearing whirring motors or seeing huge clowns for the first time are just examples of the fears encountered early on. Young children do not want to sleep alone, fearing the monsters under the bed or inside the closet. Older children do not dare venture into dark alleys at night fearing that they will be mugged. Then there are teens, who may be overly tense when talking before their class.

What do all these means? Fear is something that your child will experience while growing up. Many of these fears are outgrown as they come to understand the “whys and wherefores” of their source of fear. Their nervous system has also matured as they’ve aged, allowing them to better comprehend their environment, what they should not fear and about the real dangers out there. While you acknowledge that fear is natural, be watchful because some fears cannot be outgrown. If your child’s fear is a form of anxiety, the symptoms can only dissipate with therapy.

How do you know that a fear isn’t the usual type, and that your child needs to see a therapist? If your little one’s symptoms are intense, illogical and inappropriate for their age, there is a good reason to feel worried. Was your child exposed to an abusive or violent experience? Be aware that trauma can trigger a kind of fear that won’t dissipate easily without professional help. Are the symptoms, such as bad dreams and heightened stimulation – restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, insomnia, and angry outbursts – persistent? This isn’t usual. Have these symptoms assessed without delay. There could be more to your child’s fear than meets the eye.

The Many Faces of Child’s Fear

“Fear is an emotional response induced by a perceived threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function, as well as in behavior,” says Psychology Today, 2014. Extreme fear in children is a terrifying feeling that can cause you to hide or shy away from people, burst into tears or freeze in your shoes. Fear may arise from a threat, whether real or perceived. It isn’t always a negative thing, though. A healthy dose is good in helping your child avoid real risks. According to Dr. Tamar E. Chansky of the Children’s Center for OCD and Anxiety, “Without fear, (your child may) jump headlong into things (they) shouldn’t.”

Excessive fear should not be ignored because it can develop into the worse types, such as phobia and panic attacks. Phobia is defined by Stanford Children’s Health as “an identifiable and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable and is triggered by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation.” The symptoms are powerful and can be triggered by a living creature, an object, a place, or a reminder of a frightening experience. It can be baffling with unclear causes. The effects can be devastating. It can have incapacitating effects on him/her.

On the other hand, “a panic attack is the abrupt onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes… and then begin to subside…” says the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Its symptoms are akin to the symptoms of the “fight and flight” reaction system, such as “palpitations, a pounding heart, or an accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath or smothering, chest pain or discomfort…” and such. The symptoms are so intense they can put your child’s health at risk.

The Challenge of Recognizing the Symptoms

Having your child’s manifestations assessed by a qualified professional is critical for a child to successfully overcome their extreme fear. Though most parents are willing to “walk to the ends of the earth” to ease their child’s pain, the task is more easily said than done. The process is not a straight path. Do not underestimate the heart of a parent, nonetheless. Your love has the power for the outcome of your child’s fear/anxiety to improve. With the assessment of the symptoms, the diagnosis and treatment become possible.

To overcome the excessive fears of your child, the diagnosis must be undertaken for a treatment program to be tailored for them. This starts with the recognition of the symptoms. Inasmuch as children lack the experience and the advanced communication skills, verbalizing their feeling doesn’t easily come. Recognizing the symptoms is also difficult because these sometimes overlap, being identical to the symptoms of other medical and emotional conditions. At times. the manifestations can also be masked by other symptoms.

Another stumbling block could be the belief that all children’s fears eventually go away. This isn’t always the case. There are those fears that are persistent. Though it is nice to just relax and watch your child grow up with peace in your heart, you must be vigilant. Know that excessive fear in children may have different symptoms. Further, most all fear is totally baseless. If your little one has been bullied in school or on the neighborhood playground, it can sow the seed of fear that in time may become more complicated. It will be good to talk about this with a counselor.

Meeting the Challenge with Counseling

Having the pleasure to watch your child grow in peace may not come easily if your child is gripped with excessive, irrational and persistent fear. What can give you the peace of mind is the help of a qualified therapist who can assist your child in overcoming extreme fear. If you are a resident of North Carolina, Carolina Counseling Services has nine offices in various convenient locations; there are three in Fayetteville. One can be in your neighborhood.

Seeking help from an experienced counselor/therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC can help nip the irrational and excessive fear, phobia or panic of your child. Extinguishing your little one’s fear can be a highly-charged/emotional challenge for any parent, particularly when it is already detrimentally affecting his/her everyday life. The process is tough, but the therapist contracted with CCS can lighten the task for you. Do not feel hopeless or helpless. These emotions can be transmitted to your child, exacerbating their fears. Instead, embrace the most logical and productive solution at hand – let CCS – Fayetteville, NC help. There is a right-fit therapist here that can assist your child through his/her fears.

Do what is best for your child. Call us to schedule your first appointment.