{"id":1016980,"date":"2026-06-10T06:37:44","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1016980\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T06:37:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:37:44","slug":"kids-news-how-to-tell-if-a-fear-is-a-phobia-and-where-to-get-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1016980\/","title":{"rendered":"Kids News: How to tell if a fear is a phobia and where to get help"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s normal to feel scared sometimes. In fact, fear is a natural process of the brain and the body to try and keep us safe. But sometimes our fears can become so strong that they get in the way of us doing things we want to in life, like spending time with friends or even going to school. Sometimes our fears can turn into phobias.<\/p>\n

WHAT ARE PHOBIAS?
<\/b>Phobias are fears that have become very big and powerful.<\/p>\n

Clinical director at mental health services provider Online Psychologists* Australia Dr Michelle Olaithe said fear was a normal process that everyone went through.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt actually helps keep us safe,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen we think something might be dangerous, our body gets ready to protect us by choosing to fight, run away, or freeze.\u201d<\/p>\n

While fears usually match the situation we are in, such as feeling nervous before making a speech in front of your class, they don\u2019t always stop us from doing what we need to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cA phobia is different,\u201d Dr Olaithe said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very strong and scary feeling about something that isn\u2019t hurting us right now. The fear can feel so big that it makes someone avoid things in their everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said someone might be so afraid of aeroplanes, for example, that they never fly, which prevents them from travelling to places they want to visit.<\/p>\n

COMMON PHOBIAS
<\/b>Researchers aren\u2019t exactly sure how many people in Australia are living with phobias, however, recent statistics suggest they could be common.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Australia, lots of children and young people feel very worried or anxious sometimes,\u201d Dr Olaithe said. \u201cAbout one out of every 14 kids aged four to 17 has an anxiety* problem, which can include strong fears called phobias.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said it was important to learn more about the rate of phobias in Australia, so that people experiencing strong fears could access support.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany adults who have very strong fears actually started feeling that way when they were children,\u201d she said. \u201cKids can be afraid of lots of things, like monsters under the bed, being up high, the dark, being away from their parent or carer, getting an injection, or being in small, closed spaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese kinds of fears can be a normal part of growing up. However, they can turn into a phobia when the fear is very strong, lasts a long time, and starts to make everyday life harder, like stopping a child from going to school, sleeping well, or having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

UNUSUAL PHOBIAS
<\/b>There are also several types of phobias that many people haven\u2019t heard of before.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome fears might sound a bit strange, but they\u2019re actually more common than you might think,\u201d she said. \u201cFor example, some people feel really uncomfortable or even scared when they see lots of tiny holes close together, like in a honeycomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trypophobia, the intense fear of clusters of holes or bumps, has been found to affect about 10-18 per cent of the adult population, according to Online Psychologists Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother fear some people have is being very scared of throwing up (emtophobia),\u201d she said. \u201cThis can make them avoid certain foods, trips, or even spending time with others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are also people who feel scared of going to sleep (somniphobia), especially if they worry about bad dreams, not being in control, or not waking up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ironically, the name given to describe the fear of long words is one of the longest you may ever see \u2013 hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.<\/p>\n

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF FEAR IS A PHOBIA?
<\/b>Dr Olaithe said psychologists often looked at how big a fear was and how much it affected a person\u2019s daily life in order to determine if it was a phobia.<\/p>\n

\u201cA fear might be called a phobia if it is very strong, lasts a long time, and makes you avoid certain places or things,\u201d Dr Olaithe said. \u201cWe also notice how the body reacts when the fear shows up. Someone experiencing a phobia might feel sweaty, have a fast heartbeat, feel shaky, sick in the stomach, dizzy, tight in the chest, or even like they are panicking.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf these big feelings start to get in the way of everyday things, like going to school, playing with friends, or doing normal activities, it could be a sign of a phobia.\u201d<\/p>\n

TREATMENT FOR PHOBIA
<\/b>Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for phobias.<\/p>\n

Having a safe place to talk about what scares you can be very helpful, Dr Olaithe said. You can also learn skills to calm and relax the body, such as slow breathing, so that you feel better equipped to deal with the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother helpful way is taking small steps. This means gently and slowly facing the fear bit by bit, with support,\u201d she said. \u201cOver time, the brain learns that the thing isn\u2019t as dangerous as it feels.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s also a special kind of help called cognitive behavioural therapy*, or CBT. It teaches children how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected, and gives them simple tools to feel calmer and more in control.\u201d<\/p>\n

WANT TO LEARN MORE? HERE\u2019S A BRIEF HISTORY OF PHOBIAS
<\/b>Knowledge about phobias and the way they should be treated has shifted over time.<\/p>\n

Phobias were first identified in the 1800s when scientists started to study how the mind worked.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly thinkers believed phobias might come from hidden feelings or past experiences,\u201d Dr Olaithe said. \u201cIn the early 1900s, experts tried to help by talking about emotions and looking for deeper reasons behind fears.<\/p>\n

\u201cLater on, around the middle of the 1900s, scientists started to think about how fears can be learned. They found that people could slowly face their fears step by step to feel less scared.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs time went on, researchers learned even more and created better ways to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, one of the most helpful methods is called cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT. It teaches people how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected, and helps them learn new ways to think and feel less afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

FINDING HELP
<\/b>If you have been experiencing strong fears that have been affecting your daily life, it\u2019s best to reach out to an adult you can trust. Sometimes just talking about your fears can help you to feel better. There are also these services you can reach out to if you are worried or anxious.<\/p>\n

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800<\/p>\n

Lifeline: 13 1114<\/p>\n

Mental Health Access Line: 1300 642255<\/p>\n

13 YARN: 13 9276<\/p>\n

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636<\/p>\n

ReachOut: au.reachout.com<\/p>\n

POLL <\/b><\/p>\n

GLOSSARY<\/b><\/p>\n