My child is afraid of the doctor, what can I do to help ease their fear?
September 20, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by David Schmitt
Dear team of the online consultation,
My name is Emil Busse and I am worried about my child. My son has a great fear of the doctor and every time we have an appointment, he is full of panic and tears. He refuses to enter the room and resists any examination. This situation is very stressful for both him and me, and I do not know how to help him overcome his fear.
My son is 6 years old and has only had negative experiences at the doctor so far. He had a painful vaccination once and since then he associates the doctor's visit with pain and discomfort. I have tried to explain to him that the doctor is there to help him and that not every examination will hurt, but he just cannot be calmed down.
I am worried that this fear could have long-term effects on his health, as he may refuse important check-ups or necessary doctor visits in the future. That is why I am looking for tips and tricks on how to help him overcome his fear of the doctor. Are there specific strategies or methods that I can use to calm him down and ease his fear? I want to help my child overcome his fears and develop a positive attitude towards doctor visits.
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Best regards,
Emil Busse
Dear Mr. Busse,
I understand your concerns about your son and his great fear of visiting the doctor. It is important for children to develop a positive attitude towards doctors so that they do not have health problems in the future because they avoid doctor visits.
It is understandable that your son has had negative experiences at the doctor and therefore has fear of examinations. However, it is important for him to learn that not all doctor visits are painful and that doctors want to help him.
Here are some tips that may help alleviate your son's fear of the doctor:
1. Preparation: Talk to your son in advance about the upcoming doctor visit. Explain to him why it is important to visit the doctor and that the doctor wants to help him. Avoid giving too many details about the examination to avoid causing additional fear.
2. Positive reinforcement: Praise your son when he is brave and handles the doctor visit well. Reward him after the doctor visit with something he enjoys doing or eating.
3. Distraction: Bring toys, books, or a tablet to distract your son during waiting and examination. Distraction can help reduce fear.
4. Building trust: Let your son slowly build trust in the doctor by scheduling regular visits without examinations. This way, he can get to know the doctor and the practice better and build trust.
5. Choice of doctor: Look for a pediatrician who has experience in dealing with anxious children and is empathetic. An empathetic doctor can help your son feel more secure.
It may also be helpful to consider child psychological counseling to help your son overcome his fears.
I hope these tips help you alleviate your son's fear of visiting the doctor. If you have any further questions or need additional support, I am happy to help.
Sincerely,
David Schmitt
