Chapter 6 - HOW IT STARTEDSophie had developed a bath phobia after slipping in the tub six months earlier.
I knew that part.
She hit her elbow.
No fracture.
But afterward she resisted getting into the tub.
We switched to showers.
Sometimes sponge baths.
Her pediatrician told us:
“Don’t turn it into a power struggle.”
Mark hated that advice.
He thought avoidance strengthened fear.
That principle is not entirely wrong.
Exposure therapy exists.
Gradual exposure can help anxiety.
But exposure therapy is structured, consent-sensitive, developmentally appropriate, and usually guided by trained professionals when fear is severe.
Mark read enough online to become dangerous.
That was the beginning.
He found parenting forums.
Videos.
Articles about “building resilience.”
Then adult anxiety material about exposure and habituation.
He created his own system.
One minute near tub.
Three minutes feet in water.
Five minutes sitting.
Hair rinse.
Longer intervals.
Reward charts at first.
May you like
Then punishment when Sophie resisted.
The system changed from helping her face fear into proving she could not escape him.
