The most common symptoms of specific phobias in children and adolescents, ages six to 18, include:
- A persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable that occurs by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood)
- Exposure to the feared item or situation almost always leads to an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a panic attack. In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing or clinging
- The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or out of proportion to the actual threat posed. In children, this feature may be absent.
- The phobic situation is avoided or else is endured with intense anxiety or distress
- The avoidance, anxious anticipation or distress during the feared situation interferes significantly with your child's normal routine, school functioning, social activities or relationships; or there is marked distress about having the phobia
There are four categories:
- Animal type (e.g. dogs, snakes or spiders)
- Natural environment type (e.g., heights, storms, water)
- Blood-injection-injury type (e.g. fear of seeing blood, receiving a blood test or shot, watching television shows that display medical procedures)
- Situational type (e.g., airplanes, elevators, driving, enclosed places)
- Other types (e.g., phobic avoidance of situations that may lead to choking, vomiting or contracting an illness; in children, avoidance of loud sounds like balloons popping or costumed characters like clowns)