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Home » Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder » Child Anxiety and School Phobia in Children

... now I have helped thousands of children to become anxiety free and it makes all I experienced worthwhile.

The journey that has helped me to help so many

At the age of about 13, I went through a period of what my doctor called 'school phobia'. I became irrationally anxious, depressed and scared. I would regularly seek the assistance of the school nurse, call my mother to collect me and sit alone somewhere hiding. Feeling that way at such a young age is dreadful, it is not only scary but confusing too, the psyche of a child is very superficial until this age and the sudden realisation that life is not all about play and fun and in fact quite daunting, challenging and delicate, comes as quite a shock to a child. Children discover their mortality a varying ages but this realisation too, can cause a child immense distress if not handled correctly by parents or guardians.

It is always difficult for a child to break away from home after an extended period of being at home, such as the school holidays or time off sick. Factors such as moving to a new area, a divorce or a bereavement can cause immense stress to a child and set off disturbed, anxious behaviour that results in separation anxiety.

Avoidance strategies that are used by children are usually based around feeling ill... they know this to be a successful manipulation tool as it works when they are really ill. The device used by children usually follows the pattern of being apparent at the time, disappearing during the day and reappearing the next morning. In some cases, the child may just simply refuse to leave the house.

A child with separation anxiety may display a whole range of behaviours.

Typically, they may:

• Feel unsafe when alone
• Display clinging behaviour
• Have panic attacks and anxiety symptoms
• Have obsessive behaviours and thoughts
• Display excessive worry and fear about parents or about harm to themselves
• Shadow the mother or father around the house
• Have difficulty going to sleep
• Have nightmares
• Have exaggerated, unrealistic fears of animals, monster, burglars
• Fear being alone in the dark
• Fear school trips or journeys away from home or safety
• Have severe tantrums when forced to go to school

The extended implications of separation anxiety can be far reaching. In the very long term, it can lead to anxiety and panic disorders in adulthood, but short term it could lead to social isolation, educational difficulties and communication difficulties. The conflict between parent and child about the issue of going to school could also cause a rift in that relationship. It is of the very greatest importance therefore that a child receives immediate attention.

Since the problem tends to be more to do with getting to school rather than actually being there, it is important that he/she receives targeted exercises in order to work through their irrational fears. Working through the nine pillars and doing the relaxation exercises in this programme will help to redress the issues.

Other issues tackled in the Linden Method include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Phobias.

The Linden Method - Junior Edition

The new Linden Method Junior Edition is aimed at children aged 7-15, but can be used by younger children with complete adult guidance.

The Junior Edition includes the full adult Linden Method Pack plus 'Child Anxiety'; an additional resource for combating childhood anxiety issues, including school phobia, bullying, exam stress, growing pains and much more.

Also included are 2 additional Linden Method CDs for children.

Support

In addition to carer support, the Junior Edition also provides children with email and telephone access to our anxiety specialists should they require any support, advice or reassurance.

NOTE:
The Linden Method is intended for use by adults. Any information or advice passed to minors must be the responsibility of a parent or guardian. The Linden Method and Lifewise Publishing accept no responsibility for damages or injury to minors as a result of using The Linden Method.

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