Agoraphobia In Young Children
Adults are not the only ones affected by anxiety disorders. For example, agoraphobia in young children is not unheard of and should be treated before it gets to a debilitating stage. In children, it can be difficult to spot and therefore, go untreated. Parents may not be open enough to think there is a problem. They may think, "Oh well, that's how she is. She'll grow out of it." Wrong. She's growing INTO it. The longer it goes, the harder it gets to overcome. It could be that something at school may have triggered it. Seeking help quickly is so incredibly important. If left untreated, it can go on for years. Other anxiety disorders can develop, such as social phobia. Depression may also set in. Many years can be wasted. My Agoraphobia ExperienceOn a personal note, I remember as a child in school how I would be frightened to go anywhere unfamiliar on my own. I just HAD to go with someone. I remember getting on a bus with an older friend. I was dead scared to even pay my own fare! I begged him to pay for me (which he didn't) and I paid it myself, but it made no difference. As a teenager, I remember my friends making fun of me because I never went anywhere and was afraid of being left behind. When I did go somewhere with them, I became very 'clingy'. I'd always make sure I would be able to 'hold' someone if they tried to run off. They found teasing me this way to be funny. In fact, they DID run but because I was fast, I could catch up. I had no idea why I was the way I was. This was in the days I didn't have a panic disorder or agoraphobia (or wasn't told that I did). Looking back, I can see that I was agoraphobic, but had no idea back then. This is an example of how agoraphobia in young children can be extremely difficult to spot. But if you do, you must do something to avoid a potential nightmare. Agoraphobia Is TreatableThis is an important point. You may not think your child has a problem. If it persists, seek help quickly. It could save your child years of torment, frustration, depression, feeling worthless and low self-esteem. Do not let your child go through this. No child deserves this. Help is available these days. There are all kinds of effective treatments available. Let your child be as happy as he or she can be. Agoraphobia in young children can be overcome.
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