FEAR

 

Throughout her life so far J hasn't really showed much fear....of anything really. 

With some kids all it takes is the comment "wait till your father gets home" or sometimes just a "look" from one parent can instantly stop a child from misbehaving. Not in J's case.

I know anxiety is common in children with autism, with specific fears and phobias being one of the most frequent subtypes. So, it's interesting to note that of late, spiders seem to be of concern to her.

Sometimes she thinks they are under her bed, in her bed, somewhere in her room and just lately a fear of going downstairs in the morning on her own until someone has checked it out to be safe!

We can't think of anything to have started this phobia, and we are trying not to make too big a thing of it, but it is interesting that although this phobia has started, it seems to only manifest itself in our home and hasn't (yet!) extended to the outside world! Only yesterday she was on a river walk with my husband, clambering through and over bushes, without a care in the world!!

Another occasion when out at a nature reserve she was delighted to find a wasp spider and even played in the spider themed play area!!