Oct 27, 2008 1:40 pm US/Eastern
'Scared Of School' Is A True Fear
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
"I don't want to go to school!" How many times do parents here that? Sometimes it might just be the protests of someone who stayed up watching TV too late, but there are times when it can be indicative of a much bigger problem.
Eighth grader David Wolfcale went through a period where just the thought of going to school made him ill. "You start getting nervous, and then you start feeling sick," David described.
His mother Vickie said this began in the 4th grade. "He would call and say he had a stomach ache." A couple of years later, the stress escalated to the point that David became depressed. "He stated to me in the car, hysterically crying in front of the school, 'It would be better if I didn't even exist.'"
That's when Vickie realized David needed professional attention. As many as 5% of children suffer from severe classroom anxiety. Common symptoms include headaches, stomach aches, and panic attacks. It can often be referred to as school phobia or school refusal. Chris Kearny, a child development expert, said that parents should realize that school refusal is a very common problem.
Support Site: Scared of SchoolAlthough school phobia is often associated with anxiety in younger children, older children can experience this too. For them, it is often associated with academic pressure or social discomfort. Children with learning disorders can also be vulnerable.
Mark Resnick of the National Association of School Psychologists says that students who go through school phobia find school a less enjoyable place to be as they become increasingly frustrated. "They're getting bullied or getting harassed by other students," Resnick said. "This is a very big problem for kids."
Sorting this out can be a real challenge for parents. How can they tell if their child is just experiencing regular mood swings, or if a real problem is brewing? "When students are not adapting, where it is developing into a lot of anxiety, or actually could develop into physical symptoms," said Resnick. "This goes on for an extended period of time."
He says the first thing parents should do is talk to their children, and then try school officials. In some cases, professional help is necessary, including therapy and medication. Experts say this is not, however, a reason for kids to miss school and that they should attend as much as possible.
Sticking to a morning routine can also be helpful. That, along with medication, is helping David. It's a daily battle, but one his family is committed to helping him win.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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