Katherine Dahlsgaard
Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D., Lead Psychologist - The Anxiety Behaviors Clinic, CHOP
By Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D.
American children receive over 30 shots for vaccinations during the course of their lives. That doesn’t include Novocain shots at the dentist’s office and injections to draw blood for tests. Yet In a recent study, 63% of children reported mild-moderate fears of receiving shots (as did about 24% of adults). Estimates vary, but studies have suggested 2-8%of children have injection phobias (i.e., extremely intense fears combined with high anticipatory anxiety that results in impairment in everyday living).
While intense fears may need counseling, parents can help kids overcome mild to moderate fears with these steps:
Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D., Lead Psychologist - The Anxiety Behaviors Clinic, CHOP
- Do not wait until the day of the doctor’s appointment to surprise your child with the news that he’ll be getting a shot. Many parents do this, reasoning that if they tell their child in advance, “he will worry about it all week.” However, NOT telling your child in advance a) suggests that YOU think shots are so overwhelming and awful that he should, too, and b) denies your child a chance to develop and practice a good coping plan.
- Tell him about the shot matter-of-factly, modeling calm behavior. If he expresses distress, you can empathize and reassure him that it’s a normal reaction: “I understand that you’re nervous – lots of people don’t like shots.”
- Do not overly reassure your child (“It’ll be okay! It’ll be okay!”) or tell him, “Don’t worry – it won’t hurt.” First, shots do hurt, which he already knows. Second, the greater purpose here is to help him realize he can act bravely even when things are painful.
by Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D.
At age 23, Herb Brooks was the last player cut from the 1960 American Olympic hockey team, which went on to win the gold medal. Twenty years later, however, Brooks organized and coached a rag-tag group of college students into the American team for the 1980 Olympics that beat the Soviet Union to win gold. Brooks is largely credited for one of the most staggering upsets -- as well as one of the most famous calls -- in American sports history. A little over twenty years after that, the movie Miracle documented this stunning triumph. Tragically, Brooks never made it to the premiere. He died in an automobile accident early one morning a few months before Miracle was released. The cause of the crash? Brooks fell asleep at the wheel.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. What may surprise you is that sleep deprivation is a factor in 20% of all car accidents. That’s right: Not getting enough sleep (such as after pulling an all-nighter to study for that final exam) is a factor in 1 in 5 car accidents. More than half of these accidents involve drivers 25 and under.
by Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D.
At age 23, Herb Brooks was the last player cut from the 1960 American Olympic hockey team, which went on to win the gold medal. Twenty years later, however, Brooks organized and coached a rag-tag group of college students into the American team for the 1980 Olympics that beat the Soviet Union to win gold. Brooks is largely credited for one of the most staggering upsets -- as well as one of the most famous calls -- in American sports history. A little over twenty years after that, the movie Miracle documented this stunning triumph. Tragically, Brooks never made it to the premiere. He died in an automobile accident early one morning a few months before Miracle was released. The cause of the crash? Brooks fell asleep at the wheel.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. What may surprise you is that sleep deprivation is a factor in 20% of all car accidents. That’s right: Not getting enough sleep (such as after pulling an all-nighter to study for that final exam) is a factor in 1 in 5 car accidents. More than half of these accidents involve drivers 25 and under.
