Is your child afraid of going to school? Is this called Scolionophobia? Let's talk about it!

Does your little one seem to be reluctant to go to school? Does he sometimes cry, "Oh, Mom/Dad, I can't go to school today?" A little reluctance is normal. But this is not just reluctance, for some children, the thought of going to school causes great fear and anxiety. This condition is simply called `Scolionophobia` or the extreme fear of school. Although it is not exactly a disease in the `DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)`, doctors consider it to be something that falls under the category of `specific phobias`.

There are many times when young children do not want to go to school. This is normal. But in this case called `Scolionophobia`, the child feels very insecure and anxious even at the thought of going to school. Sometimes it even hurts physically. Such a child may not go to school for days without any clear reason, or for unknown reasons. This is also called `school phobia` or `school refusal`. Another name is `didaskaleinophobia`. This condition can often be associated with other `anxiety disorders`.

So, who might be afraid to go to this school?

Usually between the ages of 18 and 24 months, that is, around one and a half to two years, very young children develop ``separation anxiety.`` This means that they cry, become agitated, and become afraid when they are separated from their mother, father, or caregiver. However, this condition often disappears as children get older. If it does, they may develop ``scolionophobia.``

Looking further, these types of children are more likely to be afraid of going to school:

• If parents are overprotective: Some parents tend to overprotect their children even over small things. This can also lead to this situation.
• Some children are born a little more anxious: that's just their nature.
• If you are the only child in the family.
• If you are the youngest child in the family.
• If you are suffering from a chronic illness.

Imagine, Nimali's son, little Sandun. He is the only child in the family. Both his mother and father love him very much and take care of him like a baby. Sandun has been a little scared since he was a child. When he started going to school, he would cry every morning, saying, "My stomach hurts, mom." It was only when he showed it to a doctor that it was realized that Sandun had this fear of going to school.

How much fear of going to school do you see?

This ``school phobia'' affects between 2% and 5% of children. That means, to put it simply, about one in 20 children may have this condition.

This is most commonly seen:

• Among young children, around 5-6 years old.
• Among middle school age children, around 10-11 years old. (That means around five or six years old)

Also, symptoms of Scolionophobia can be seen during times of major changes in a child's life, such as when the child starts high school.

Why is this fear of going to school growing? What are the reasons?

Sometimes, there may be no clear cause for this condition, "Scolionophobia." However, problems at school or at home may cause the child to feel anxious or afraid of school.

Effects of the home environment:

Children with Scolionophobia may also struggle with issues like these at home:

• Fear of violence at home or in their environment: Sometimes a child may become afraid when they see fights happening at home, or because of bad things happening around them.
• Economic difficulties: When there are financial problems at home, children feel it too.
• Lack of food and drink: Not having enough to eat and drink is also a big stressor.
• Lack of proper housing or homelessness.
• Lack of full attention from parents or caregivers: If both parents are at work, there is no time to talk to the child or ask their questions. Imagine, Kasun's parents work from morning till night. Kasun has no one to share his sorrows with.
• Big changes in the family: Things like moving house, parents getting divorced, or someone dying.

Effects of the school environment:

Children may develop 'Scolionophobia' after experiencing these types of experiences at school:

• Bullying, teasing, or physical threats from other children: Some children tease, threaten, or try to hit others. This can make the child afraid to go to school.
• Fear of being criticized, punished, or ridiculed by teachers or school staff: A child may have fears such as "The teacher will scold me," or "The teacher will hit me."
• Learning disabilities: For example, children with conditions such as dyslexia (reading and language difficulties) or dyscalculia (difficulty understanding numbers and arithmetic) may experience anxiety due to difficulty with schoolwork.
• Anxiety or intense fear of major disasters: For example, being afraid of something like a school shooting. Even though such things are not common in our country, children may be afraid because of things they see on the news.

If you are afraid of going to school, what are the symptoms?

For many children with Scolionophobia, the main symptoms are physical . When thinking about going to school, the child may experience the following:

• Diarrhea.
• Headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Stomachaches.
• Tremors or uncontrollable shaking.

These physical symptoms are real. The child is not acting out. The fear in his heart is causing these physical difficulties.

Children can also develop mental health symptoms . For example:

• Clinging: Fear of leaving parents or caregivers. Always trying to be with them.
• Fear of the dark.
• Nightmares.
• Constantly worrying about one's own safety or the safety of others.
• Things like squirming, screaming, and rolling on the floor (`Tantrums`).

For example, Amaya's daughter, Mihri. Every morning when she's about to go to school, she says, "Oh, my stomach hurts," and sometimes she even throws up. When she gets home from school, she's fine. These are the physical symptoms she mentioned.

How does a doctor recognize this?

There are no specific diagnostic criteria for `Scolionophobia`. That is, there is no exact list of "if you have these symptoms, you have this disease."

To understand the underlying cause of your child's refusal to go to school, a doctor may ask you or your child things like:

• What are your child's symptoms?
• When do these symptoms start?
• How long have the symptoms been present?
• Are these symptoms exacerbated by a specific event or something that happened with someone?
• What can you do to reduce these symptoms?

It is based on the answers to these questions that a doctor determines what condition the child has.

So, how do you treat this?

Children with mild symptoms of Scolionophobia can overcome their fear of school, perhaps with the help of their parents or a teacher.

However, if symptoms are severe , or if they are associated with another mental health condition, children may benefit from treatments such as:

• Talk therapy:
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is often called "talking therapy." It involves helping the child identify incorrect, unhelpful thoughts. The therapist then teaches the child how to replace those incorrect thoughts with correct, rational thoughts. For example, if the child thinks, "My teacher always scolds me," the therapist helps the child explore whether that is true and why it is so.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): In this DBT treatment, children are taught four skills to help them deal with difficult emotions. The therapist teaches the child two skills that focus on acceptance and two skills that focus on change. The goal is to help the child understand how their thoughts affect their behavior. With this understanding, they can better manage their negative emotions and their relationships with others.

• Exposure therapy: This involves gradually exposing the child to the thing they are afraid of. First, you can start by having them imagine what will happen at school. Little by little, you actually face that fear. For example, if the child is afraid of going to the school gate, first look at the gate from a distance, and the next day, move a little closer, and in this way, the fear will gradually decrease.

• Medication: Medication can help, especially if your child has another mental health condition. For example, children can be given antidepressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs, such as Sertraline (Zoloft®) or Fluoxetine (Prozac®), can treat an underlying anxiety disorder. But remember, these medications should only be given under the supervision of a doctor.

Most importantly: All of these treatments should only be done under the guidance of a qualified doctor or mental health counselor . Don't just do whatever you feel like doing.

Are there other conditions associated with this fear of going to school?

Yes. Children with anxiety disorders or other mental health conditions are more likely to have this school refusal behavior. Children with scolionophobia may also have one or more of the following:

• Depression.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). (You may remember we talked about this in a previous article.)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Social Anxiety Disorder.

Therefore, if a child is afraid of going to school, it is very important to investigate whether the cause is another condition like this.

How can my child overcome his fear of going to this school?

With proper treatment, many children overcome their fear of school. For others, school-related anxiety doesn't go away completely, but they learn to live with it.

Along with any formal treatment, children can learn coping strategies to reduce anxiety, such as:

• Learning mindfulness or meditation techniques: These can help reduce stress. There are simple mindfulness exercises on YouTube that even young children can do.
• Practicing breathing exercises: Taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly can help calm the mind.
• Repeating positive, affirming statements (`affirmations`): Saying things like "I can", "I am strong", "I will get through this".

Things you can do as parents:

• Listen to your child: Listen patiently to what your child is saying. Don't say things like, "What's that, just don't lie."
• Understand the child: Accept that his fears are real.
• Talk to teachers: Inform the teachers at school and get their support.
• Set small goals with your child: Don't expect big things all at once. Take it one step at a time.
• Seek medical advice: If you have a problem, be sure to see a doctor or mental health counselor .

What should I ask my child's doctor?

You can ask your child's doctor things like:

• What is the most likely reason my child refuses to go to school?
• Does my child have a mental health diagnosis?
• Would my child benefit from seeing a therapist?
• How can I help my child overcome this school phobia?

By asking these questions, you will be able to gain a better understanding of the situation and find the best way to help your child.

Are you afraid of doing schoolwork?

Yes. Some children have a severe fear of doing schoolwork, such as homework. This fear of homework is called devwahrphobia . When children with devwahrphobia are given too much work at school, they may experience panic attacks or other severe anxiety symptoms. This is also a condition that needs attention, just like scolionophobia.

So, what are the things we should remember from this story?

Scolionophobia is an extreme fear of school. Although it is not a formal diagnosis, many specialists consider it a specific phobia. Some children with Scolionophobia experience severe anxiety at the thought of going to school. They may skip school for days at a time for no apparent reason.

The most important thing is to understand that this is neither the child's fault nor something they did on purpose.

If a child has mild symptoms, school-related anxiety can be reduced with the help of a teacher or parent. However, if the symptoms are severe, these children can be helped with therapy and, if necessary, medication prescribed by a doctor.

If your child is having this problem, never leave them alone. Seek medical advice. The most important thing is to provide your child with love, understanding, and support.

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