8-year old freaks out over small stuff

[Aibor5]

My 8 year old daughter with ADHD freaks out when a bee or dog is near her, or when she gets a vaccine. She starts crying, tries to run away and just freaks out way more than what is normal. Is this part of having ADHD? Does anyone else have this experience?

[Aspen797]

My son also has “over-sized” fears. Bee stings, shots/blood draws, and wariness of sharp things. Caveat though—my son is also on the spectrum— though I have heard at least one other parent on here also mention fear of shots in her son. No real solution found yet (despite lots of education, exposure, reassurance etc), though we did just start seeing a psychologist who specializes in anxiety, so we are hopeful that learning some skills and strategies will better help him cope.

[Mommywarrior4LC]

yes! My son is the same way with bees, any bugs that fly in general. Kids with ADHD tend to overreact to things because they have trouble regulating their emotions.

[Profenergeticcoyote]

Aibor5 my 8 year old also has outsized reactions when things are difficult or scary. Vaccines being one of those things. At 4 he ran from my husband in the doctors parking lot. Dangerous and scary! What seems to help is lots of preparation and reminders and a big reward. We put doctors visits on a big calendar. Talk about what the vaccines are for, to keep us from getting sick and being in more pain, when we’ll go, what the reward is etc. Be is better and won’t run away in the parking lot. But instinctively tried to make a break for it when the nurse came and dove under a chair. I had to hold him in my lap. This was at age 7. So it follows— emotional behavior level that was 30% behind actual age (~4.9 year old). I agree with others, it’s the challenge with emotional regulation. But also natural variability in fears that different people experience. He isn’t afraid of bee stings. But we are prepping now for his flu shot!

[anirush]

My grandson was afraid of doctors, the dentist was a nightmare. He had lots of anxiety. We would go to afavorite restaurant or do something special as a reward after an appointment. After years of meds and counseling he just got a tatoo at age 18. It is the birthday of his cousin who passed away at age 15. He really wanted it for a long time but still was so worried before getting it. He did fine.

[MyDogAteMyRitalin]

Hi all, agree with many of the posters on giving lots of advance notice and rewards after. For shots or blood draws, my son has found a Buzzy to be very helpful. amazon.com/s?k=buzzy+bee+fo...

[Willowbee37]

yes, my 9yr old son has irrational freak outs like that as well. For example, he loves bugs but apparently now is terrified of spiders. He was on my dad’s boat and a spider fell off of something he touched, he screamed and cried to the point I thought he was kidding. He wasn’t. Literally hyperventilating I had to step in and calm him down. They just have BIG emotions that they have a hard time controlling.

However, needle phobia is real. I was a phlebotomist for years and dealt with patients like that a lot. If you have a vaccine coming up go to the dollar store and grab a treat or little toy and wrap it. When you get to the doc office show it to her. Tell her if she behaves and you guys get through it together without a meltdown, she can have it. Bribery at its finest, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

[WYMom]

Mine is 11 and started freaking out over wind, a huge problem when you live in Wyoming. Rocking back and forth in a corner freaking out. We are considering anxiety meds because of it.

[Aibor5]

Thanks yo everyone for your replies. I feel better knowing that I am not alone!

What are we doing to prepare them for adulthood with these phobias though? I wonder how to get her prepared for when she is out alone one day and a bee comes by.

[Alt49]

sounds very similar to my son. ADHD. Freaks over butterflies, hates dogs (moves to the other side of the street when one is walking by) and hates his birthday and talks about it at random times for several months because he associates that with shots.

[MinnMom]

Our son was the same with vaccines/COVID tests/strep tests. We tried everything. I decided I wouldn't him down because I want him to have control over his body. Finally, a pediatrician friend suggested a short acting anti-anxiety pill (diazepam) 30-60 min ahead of a vaccine or blood draw appointment. It worked miracles. And after 2-3 appointments using this, he now can manage shots without it.

[JMRNgreen]

highly sensitive people… I am one and so is my son. And ADHD…

[VA_mum]

Being reactive, or what other people would call "hypersensitive", can absolutely be symptoms of adhd - particularly in young children. Worth consulting a gp if it continues