Phobia Therapy for 11 year old?

[hangrylady]

My 11 year old daughter has what I think is a phobia of bugs, specifically wasps and spiders. We went to an attraction at the weekend and there were picnic tables outside where we had lunch and there were quite a few wasps around. They kept pestering and she was screaming and started crying and refused to sit down to eat. Afterwards she was really embarrassed by the whole incident. Today I was driving with her and she was sat in the front and a small spider came down from the rear view mirror. Again a hysterical reaction, which was pretty dangerous as I was driving at the time and she was screaming and crying. I don't have phobias so don't really 'get it', but I don't want her to have to go through life being so terrified of such common things. She is otherwise a very level headed, sensible girl. No SEN. Has anyone else experienced this? Will she grow out of it or is there something I can do? Any advice appreciated, thank you.

Sorry didn't mean to enable voting!

I used to be bird phobic. It started when I was very young and by the time I was in my mid-30s, it was so bad that I thought I might have to give up driving, because the urge to duck and hold my arms over my head was becoming overwhelming.

I spoke to my GP about it, and he referred me for CBT. I only had 6 sessions, but the difference it made was life-changing. I still can't sit in a room with an uncaged bird, but I don't have to cross the road if there's a pigeon pecking at food dropped on the pavement. I really wish I'd done it years earlier.

So yes, I'd try and get some therapy for her. Bugs are much harder to avoid than birds, it must be awful for her.