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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Anxiety vs. Dentist/doctor
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
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Anxiety vs. Dentist/doctor
by justme§thedog, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
My 8 year old son has sleep disorders and high anxiety and currently takes .5 mg Clonazepam nightly. But although it reduces his anxieties, he has real trouble overcoming whatever his mind is focused on if he's wound himself up. I try to keep things calm and not-overindulge these fears (or he only gets worse) while still being supportive - although I come off unsympathetic sometimes. Some situations I can't handle. For instance, he has a total phobia of needles. He's had to get a number of needles and he's the first to admit it doesn't actually hurt that much, he says 'it's the fear. I'm just so afraid and I can't stop'. We can go in, get set up, but as soon as he knows it's coming, he's in a total panic and thrashing. I've tried rewards and other incentives (hoping that completing the experience will help him see that it's over soon enough, and some things need to be done). But I'm completely stressed about taking him to the dentist again (I've put it off 6 months now). I know he has 2 cavities that need filling - he had one done at 4 years old and it was a nightmare. How do I handle this? Do I go with him and hold him down? Leave him with the staff to deal with? (not that there's dentists who're willing to deal with a hysterical child). I've tried teaching him some relaxation techniques (breathing, mental imagry) to help, but he can't seem to implement them at the time they're needed. Ultimately, there's just some things that have to be done, including needles or fillings - he just can't seem to get the courage to have it done and overwith. HELP!
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
Re: the dentist, ask how they would like to proceed. It often does happen that children do better when they are 'turned over' to the staff. Re: the overall situation, depending on your location, some of the pediatric hospitals have programs to address the very situations you describe. You're doing sensible things to help, but your son's high degree of fear and anxiety overtake him and interfere with his problem-solving.
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