The biggest lie I’ve been told about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is that “getting them in” fixes the problem. EBSA isn’t about refusal. It’s about a nervous system in distress. Forcing attendance doesn’t resolve anxiety — it often deepens it. It teaches a child that their fear isn’t valid and that safety comes second to compliance. And over time, that pressure can tip a struggling child into burnout or crisis. What actually helps isn’t getting them in: ✔️ It’s understanding why the