child phobia of animals

[petekeith]

I have a 5 year old boy who is sacared of all animals including kittens and things.
He starts having a panic attack if one comes near him.
I'm thinking of taking him to a child psychologist but has anyone else had this problem and what did they do.
Thanks peter

[lindapinda]

This sounds like a very extreme reaction for a 5 year old.Have you talked to your doctor?

[kick3m0n]

So sorry to hear about your sons problem.    It must be horrible for him to feel like this, and even more so now as he will become aware that he is very different to most children his age.   I really have no idea what to advise, but speaking to your doctor would seem like a good first step (you've probably done that already tho).  Just wanted to wish you good luck, and hope you get the help you need. xx

[andyjevs]

That must be awful....the one thing that children usually love and treasure is their pets. Is there ANY animal that your son can tolerate so you can get one and show him that they're not all scary creatures that will eat him. What about starting with a goldfish or small tropical fish aquarium and progress from there. I really wish you the best of luck

[Le Chat]

My son, now 9 yrs was absolutely terrified of dogs. So much so, that he'd jump on my back if he saw one 100yrds on the other side of the road. However, his young cousin got a small puppy, which he was terrified of ..... but after sitting in the other room of their home with the door shut tight, he eventually realised he was missing out on whatever was going on in their house. His uncle put the dog on a lead and promised not to let go. This he did on many occasions, until my son actually stroked it one day! Now he is quite confident with this particular dog but still doesn't like any other dogs. However, knowing this dog, he tolerates others, as he understands that they don't just come and attack you out of the blue! (hopefully!!) I don't think he'll ever lose his apprehensiveness of dogs but that's not a bad thing!

[nfn]

petekeith, I was absolutely terrified of all animals, especially dogs, until my brother got a dog when I was 24! The only dog I will go to is my brother's even now but I no longer feel the terror I once did. I still won't go near an animal from choice but if one comes to me I will let it. I wish someone had helped me overcome my fear earlier as my son is now 5 and loves absolutely all animals. I have to try and teach him that animals are nice and friendly but be careful if they don't know you, when all I want to do is pull him away. I'm not sure who will be the best person to help your son but good luck.

[sunflower68]

petekeith your son is not alone.  I was the same at 5 years old; I had had no trauma previously to back up the fact that I would run up my mom's back in the vein of Le Chat's lad!  My son is afraid of certain dogs, though not terrified.  The fact that you are concerned is the best thing he needs right now. Slowly introduce animals to him (again, as it were) and obviously, be confident yourself, as I am sure you are.  He will grow out of this and it is not uncommon.  Best of luck. x

[Solarjunkie]

There was an interesting documentary on this on tv recently, basically saying it is physically impossible to sustain such stress levels for long, once nothing fearful actually happens.

By removing him from the source of fear, you are actually reinforcing the idea that there is something to be afraid of.

A man came to our house recently to buy something, leaving his wife & son in the car. I went out to invite them in for a drink after their journey, to be told the little boy was terrified of dogs - he started screaming and crying as soon as he saw my placid old fella. Knowing the boy was safe in the car, with his mother, and there was no possibility of contact as there was a door between them, I kept my hand on the dog's collar,and kept talking to his mother, explaining why I was doing so.

Obviously, nothing bad happened, and after a few minutes the boy ignored the dog & sat back with his comic. Not a miracle cure, but just proving that the theory works! And maybe now he has a good experience to balance the bad ones, of feeling fear and only feeling better when the distance between him & a dog was extended.

It can take just one bad experience to learn that something is bad and gives you nasty feelings, but a lot of little steps to unlearn it.