lrolla@cadtec.UUCP (Larry Rolla) (03/15/85)
(Do line eaters really exist?)
We (my wife and I) have recently encountered a problem with our 7 year
old. The problem is that she is developing a phobia towards elevators. This
problem seems to have surfaced all of a sudden, leaving us to ask the
question "Where did it come from?" and more important "How do we deal with
it?"
Phobias seem to be present on my wifes side of the family. My mother in
law is a walking phobia. She too has the elevator phobia, along with about
a dozen more.
The other day my daughter and I went on an outing that involved an elevator.
I knew that it would before hand, so I started preparing her for it . We
talked about the many safety features that elevators are equipped with and
what to do in case of an emergency. This all went very well. So I next
resorted to the old toss of the coin to see who got their choice of using the
stairs or the elevator in one direction. Either way we would have to use the
elevator at least once. Being the lucky guy that I am, I won the coin toss
and elected to use the elevator on the way up. As we started approaching the
elevator I could see the anxiety in her face. (Before this I really thought
that this whole phobia was for attention.) We pushed the button and she
wanted nothing to do with the elevator. I showed her the phone, which she
looked at with most of her body still in the hall way. I then reached for her
hand to try and coach her in some more when the fear hit. She started crying
and pulling away with a look on her face that I had never seen before. (we are
talking about a girl that used to jump up and down in the elevator as it was
moving) I then decided to let the matter drop. We took the stairs.
On the way down we got her grandfather involved into the scene and he gave
it his best shot. She still didn't want to take the elevator. I then picked
her up and we all rode the elevator down. She wasn't crying or screaming like
she was before but she wasn't happy either.
Every time we ask her why she is afraid of the elevators she says that she gets
dizzy in them. (I don't believe it.)
If anyone out there in net land has any experience with this kind of problem I
would deeply appreciate some suggestions on how to deal with it.
Thanks
( I will summarize the responses if theirs enough interest )
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The phobias expressed above are my daughters phobias, and in no way related
to the phobias of my employer.
Larry Rolla Cadtec Corp. 2355 Old Oakland Rd. San Jose, CA 95131
{decwrl!nsc,csi,onyx,teklds}!cadtec!lrolla (408) 942-1535faucher@futbal.DEC (Cathy Faucher 381-2207) (03/27/85)
I had the same type of phobia as a child and outgrown it at the age of 13. I believe if parents and friends don't give the phobia so much attention, the child eventually will overcome it (although in your mother-inlaw case, it apparantly never went away). At times when my parents would use an elevator, I had the choice of using the stairs and would meet them up there. I was never forced to use the elevator. Although in your case I wouldn't let your child climb the stairs on her own, due to her age, and the thought of sooo many "missing childeren" in todays world. Just think "Stairs" can be great exercise !!! Along with the Elevator phobia, I also had phobia in any other closed areas (such as closets or small closed rooms). My sister took great advantage of the closet phobia and would try to force me in. The phobia is soo strong, she always failed and walked away with massive scratches on her body. Phobia is "for real" and should never be considered as a Joke or Attention getter. Nightmares of closed areas was also very common for me. Every night I always had the same nightmare, where I would be a in a closed room with no doors or windows and the walls would close in on me and crush me (sounds outrageous), although it would scare me to death. Due to my experience with phobia, I suggest you treat your child's phobia with care, to allow her to overcome it. Do not force her to be in places which scare her, and most of all be sure the mother- inlaw does not encourage her to have these phobias (only can make it worse). Good Luck !!!