Specific Phobia – Situational Type

Specific Phobia, is characterized by chronic, excessive fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations. Youth with Specific Phobia tend to actively avoid direct contact with the objects or situations that evoke anxiety. Their fear may also be triggered by both the presence or the anticipation of the feared situation. Specific Phobia–Situational Type refers to specific phobias of such things as small confined spaces (i.e., elevators), modes of travel (i.e., cars, planes, buses, trains), and being afraid of the dark. Such kids have difficulty controlling these specific fears, to the point where they are likely to avoid these situations. If they don’t avoid the situation, they are likely to endure such encounters with the feared situation with intense anxiety or distress. This problem must also be present for at least six months before a diagnosis of specific phobia would be considered appropriate. Some children may recognize that their fear is excessive, or out of proportion to the actual risk in the situation, yet the child may still feel intense distress.

Some children with Specific Phobia–Situational Type may exhibit certain themes to their worry or have certain beliefs about the feared situation. For example, kids that are afraid of enclosed places, such as elevators, may believe that they will run out of air, or that they will be unable to escape. Youth that are specifically afraid of the dark may believe that they are much more likely to be “in danger” when they sleep with the lights off. As a coping mechanism, many children with situational specific phobias will frequently avoid such situations, and might avoid thinking about the possibility of the feared outcome. Unfortunately, this avoidance may only result in short-term relief; these kids are likely to continue avoiding such situations and their distress and negative beliefs about the feared situation are likely to increase.

For such youth, physical sensations of anxiety are likely to be quite intense when they are exposed to their feared situation, and some youth may experience panic-like symptoms. A therapist and child will work together to identify the physical responses that they experience (i.e., pounding heart, shaking, difficulty breathing), so that the child can learn that this is part of their anxiety response. Therapy may also involve discussion about the risk of being in particular situations, and the likelihood of being hurt. A goal of therapy is to help the child learn to cope and learn that they are capable of enduring their distress. Children may also learn that their feared situation is less dangerous than they initially believed. A therapist will work with the child on challenges that place them in the feared situation for a period of time. Such challenges may involve sitting in a room with the lights off, for a kid that is afraid of the dark. For a child that is afraid of trains, a therapist and child can ride together on a train, or watch videos of bullet trains. The goal of these challenges is for the child to learn that they can cope with their anxiety in the feared situation, and practice mastery over their anxiety.

 

References

  • Albano, A. M., Chorpita, B. F., & Barlow, D. H. (1996). Childhood anxiety disorders. In E.J. Marsh & R. A. Barkley (Eds.), Child psychopathology (pp. 196-241). New York: Guilford Press.
  • Ollendick, T. H., Raishevich, N., Davis, T. E., Sirbu, C., Ost, L. (2010). Specific phobia in youth: Phenomenology and psychological characteristics. Behavior Therapy, 41, 133-141.

Symptoms

 

According to DSM, symptoms of specific phobia include:

  • Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g., heights, flying)
  • Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety response
  • The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable
  • The phobic situation(s) is avoided or else is endured with intense anxiety or distress

Specific phobias commonly focus on animals, insects, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, dental or medical procedures, and elevators.
Although people with phobias realize that their fear is irrational, even thinking about it can often cause extreme anxiety.
Physical symptoms of having a specific phobia often include uncomfortable and terrifying feelings of anxiety:

  • a feeling of imminent danger or doom
  • the need to escape
  • heart palpitations
  • sweating
  • trembling
  • shortness of breath or a smothering feeling
 

Coping Cat Parents

CopingCatParents.com was developed to serve as a comprehensive and evidence-based resource on child and adolescent anxiety. Here you will get only information backed by research and tips and strategies that have evidence to support their use. We have brought together relevant resources, tools, and tips from the experts in the field that will be informative, and help you feel confident as you move forward in helping your child. Click on any of the links below to learn more:

Symptom Checker

If you’re not sure where to start, take a moment to complete our “Symptom Checker”. Our symptom checker allows you to click on the symptoms that are consistent with what you’re seeing in your child and provides personalized feedback on your child’s symptom status and recommendations for next steps.

By answering a few short questions, you will get some feedback about which categories to learn more about next.


Use the Symptom Checker
 
 

Child Anxiety Tales

The Child Anxiety Tales program is an online parent-training program designed to equip parents with skills and strategies they’ll need to help their children better manage anxiety. The program is based on the latest evidence in the treatment of child anxiety and on cognitive-behavioral principals shown to be effective in helping anxious youth. Child Anxiety Tales is an interactive and engaging program that can be completed at your own pace from the privacy and convenience of your own computer. It is not a treatment but an online educational program for parents.
Click below to view a demo or to learn more: