Brain Bites  

School Phobia 

Om Baniya 

Most children experience fear and worries as part of the normal course of development;  almost of all children experience fears at one time or another, the most common fears being of the animal or natural environment type. The degree of fears varies in different children in different situations. But when the fear response is out of proportion to the amount of danger and it impairs children’s functioning, it is classified as children’s phobia. While fear is normal and a phobia is abnormal, they are both on the same continuum; the differ in degree, not in kind.

Phobia, the common of the DSM-V anxiety disorders, is persistent and exaggerated fears of particular objects or situation. Most of people with phobia go out of their way to avoid the thing they fear, even if such avoidance is inconvenient and disruptive.

There are various classes of children’s phobias, one of them is school phobia. School phobia is a type of phobia in which people are afraid to go to school. This condition is most commonly seen in children, classically between the ages of 8 and 13, and it can be very debilitating, especially if it is allowed to progress. School phobia is also called Didaskaleinophobia or Scolionophobia. Scolionophobia is the fear of schools, whereas Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school. 

Isha, age 10, a primary school student, lived with his father while her mother was away for two years. She had good time with her father, but when her mother returned. Isha became extremely anxious her mother in a way she had never before. As time went on, Isha’s behaviour only seemed to get worse. She started to cry every morning before school, saying that she feared to go to school. When her mother forced her, she started vomiting. Then Isha’s parents consulted psychiatrist. School phobia (due to separation anxiety) was diagnosed.

 

Two types of school phobia have been identified. Most common is associated with separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is often a main cause of school phobia. In separation anxiety children worry constantly that some harm will befall their parents or themselves when they are away from their parents; when home they shadow one or both of their parents and often try to join them in bed. 

The second major type of school phobia is associated with a true phobia of school, either a fear specifically related school or a more general school phobia. These school phobics generally begin refusing to go to school later in life and have more severe and pervasive avoidance of school.

School phobia is often attributed to separation anxiety, but it can also be evoked by many different kinds of stress. A child who has recently moved, suffered a loss, or gone through a divorce may develop school phobia, and phobias can also develop in response to bullying, an undiagnosed learning disability, perception of a poor performance at school, or to particular teaching style. Understanding the cause of a school phobia is an important step in providing treatment.

A child with school phobia usually refuses to go to school, or protests extravagantly. He or she may become physically ill when ordered to school, or fake the symptoms of illness to avoid going. When the child arrives at school, he or she may run away rather than going to class, and the child can develop behavioural problems in class and on the playground. 

School phobia and school avoidance in children and adolescents is a growing issue that impacts not only the student but the entire family, school personnel and mental health professionals working with the student. Although school phobia and avoidance may appear to be a very simple or concrete issue to resolve, it is often misunderstood and consequently minimized or mistreated. Without proper intervention, the student’s attendance further deteriorates, his/her school anxiety issues further increases and this cycle is perpetuated. Ultimately, the school phobia and avoidance is exacerbated over time and can result in clinical depression.

Parents would do well to recognize the school phobia in children. It will give them the edge they need to help alleviate school phobia in children. There are certain signs for which parents should be aware. Children suffering with these symptoms will display a range of behaviours like the ones listed below: They may feel unsafe being in a room all by themselves. Display a tendency of being clingy. 

Display fear of either themselves or their parents being harmed. Have sleepless nights and or difficulty falling asleep. Wake up during the night after experiencing frequent nightmares. Saddled with a wild unhealthy imagination about monsters, or fear of animals. Have a fear of the dark. Throwing tantrums when being forced to go to school. If your children show any of these signs of anxiety, then the parents should take steps to help ease the school phobia in children.

A wide variety of techniques can be used to manage school phobia. Children with this condition usually benefit from seeing a psychotherapy professional who can help the child and provide assistance to help parents and school officials support the child.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the best treatments for phobias including school phobia.  Treatment of school phobia or school refusal includes cognitive behaviour therapy along with systematic desensitization, exposure therapy, and operant behavioural techniques. (Baniya is a Psychotherapist and his practice is called Memory Doctor.)