School Anxiety and School Phobia

2008 March 04 by: Scott

As a fun summer comes to an end, butterflies nerves fill the bellies of many children as they get dressed for their first day back to school. Parents assure their child that they will do “just fine.” For most children that’s where the anxiety ends; they reach the classroom, catch up with their friends and get on with their day. But for some children, the anxiety of leaving home and going to school is so overwhelming that they are unable to attend school at all; these children have become school phobic.

About 5-10% of American school children suffer from a mild form of what is commonly known as school phobia. About 1% suffer from a more severe form, leading to serious problems and school absenteeism. Chronic school absenteeism leads to greater risk for problems in later life - alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, underemployment and even marital problems.
School phobia isn’t just about a child having a tummy ache when it’s time for a long division test, but a serious, long-term anxiety disorder that’s on the increase, particularly among young children. School phobia is now a condition recognized by the National Phobic Society.

Causes of School Phobia
In the under-eights school phobia is usually attributed to separation anxiety - the child’s unwillingness to be parted from a parent. In the over-eights it’s usually about having uncomfortable feelings about school - this could be to do with friendships, fear of under-performing or a more general lack of self-esteem. In some cases home or family factors can play a role; for example, if there is an illness in the family, a recent divorce or if one parent is stressed or depressed.
The phobia can be triggered by general anxiety about school or a single traumatic event; a change of school, an embarrassing incident in class, a learning difficulty or returning to school after an illness are all recognized triggers. Symptoms can be physical as well as psychological. Children may suffer panic attacks, vomit or become withdrawn and socially phobic - real physical reactions to their unhappiness.