Childhood claustrophobia

[Lincolnite]

My daughter (5) was temporarily locked in a public toilet last year whilst on holiday. We managed to get her out within about 3-4 mins but in this time she was consumed by fear and had a complete meltdown. since then, she doesn't like the door closed when using the bathroom and usual wants us to be there with her to avoid this situation again. I've gone along with this of course hoping it would be something she'd just outgrow. More recently, she accidently became locked in the car for around 5mins and couldn't get out. This has since sent her anxiety levels through the roof and now she will not tolerate being in the car without the window open. As soon as the car stops, shes out like a shot! She has been at home this last week of course and I am noticing more and more how day to day this is effecting her. She won't come out in the garden incase she is locked out of the house, the zip jammed on her coat last week and she was overcome with panic immeditately when she thought she would be stuck in it. Anyone else had experience of this? Thanks in advance

I'm not a medical professional but have had severe agoraphobia in the past and know generally how things like this tend to be treated so this is what I would personally try.
Can you find her limits for specific things and then very gently push them?

For example, she currently wants you in the bathroom with her and the door open? Will she tolerate you being in there and the door pushed ajar but not shut? Or alternatively the door wide open but you just outside? Then once she's ok with that, door open and you just nip out of sight to quickly get something? Then once she can cope with that, you stay away slightly longer etc. As for the garden, depending on the layout will she sit and play outside right by the open door? If not will she play right by the door while you sit in the open doorway playing with her? Then you can try to gradually extend the area you play in? Don't force her into anything as she'll panic and that will reinforce the idea that it's something to be scared of.

It's interesting you say she doesn't like the garden for fear of being locked out of the house. Does she ever worry about being locked in the house? Or is it being trapped away from you that she doesn't like eg does she worry about staying in the house if you're in the garden?

I'd recommend speaking to your GP as well because this current situation will obviously mean she's in the house a lot more and if she's already refusing to go into the garden I'd worry that once schools reopen you'll have a hard time getting her to go.

I had a similar thing when I was about that age! My mum left me asleep in the car whilst she popped into the house to grab something, in the meantime I woke up and couldn't see my mum and couldn't get out of the car! By all accounts I was traumatised! Any where I felt I couldn't get out of terrified me... even to the point where if someone tucked me into bed too tight I started to panic!
As I got older though I began worrying less about certain things, especially when I knew I could get myself out! Cars never bothered me again after the age of 6/7 when I realised I could unwind the window (early 2000s= old wind down windows!) the only thing that still gets me is lifts, only because I know I can't escape them in my own. I suggest you maybe let her know that there's always a way for her to get out of the situation!
I'm no professional, sorry however that's how I managed to over come my fears! Hope this helps you and DD