Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects adolescents and children who worry excessively when they are separated from their caregivers, parents, or other important people. They might also be concerned that separation could result in negative consequences, for example, being lost or hurt.
Children with separation anxiety disorders can get treatment through therapy and medication. The child is taught to handle feared situations slowly, with assurance.
Signs and symptoms
While some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member could be the victim of a tragic incident when they are separated. This could mean getting lost or becoming sick. They might also be worried about other situations that can separate them from their loved ones, like being kidnapped or getting into a car accident.
This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be caused by major life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this condition may be overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners and display a lack of boundaries. Others may perceive them as being overly clingy or demanding.
This condition is marked by a high level of anxiety when a person is separated from their family, significant stress while away from home or at work, and frequent dreams involving separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that involve the physical separation of their families, like going to school. Children with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or suffer from a range of physical problems including stomach pains or headaches, when they are worried about being on their own.
To diagnose this disorder, the healthcare professional will inquire about your your child's previous and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you've overcome separation anxiety in the past.
Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medication are utilized to treat this disorder. Your therapist will teach you and your child ways to cope with their fears. They can assist you and your child to learn how to deal with separations through a step by steps. anxiety disorder symptoms can help calm the mind and relax the body to reduce your child's anxiety.
Diagnosis
Separation anxiety disorder causes people to experience extreme stress when they are away from their home or close relatives. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last up to six months for adults and up to four weeks in children. They can cause significant disruptions in the daily routine as well as school and work. The condition can also interfere with a person's ability to create romantic relationships and socialize.
To determine if this disorder is present A mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms first started and what triggers them to get worse or improve. Depending on the person's age an expert in mental health will also inquire about any recent events that could be causing stress, as well as any history of trauma.
The doctor will also attempt to determine if the phobia is due to another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, such as cancer or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family traumas like parental mental illnesses and domestic violence, substance abuse and child neglect and abuse.
Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult since there aren't any lab tests for the condition, and it can share many symptoms with other anxiety disorders. Someone who develops a separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically experiences it after a traumatic event or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who suffer from separation disorders in childhood are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later on in their lives.
Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear with therapy, including cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications such as selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from techniques and training to strengthen their relationship with their child.
Treatment
Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout elementary school, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and impedes daily activities. According to the BetterHelp online therapy service, separation anxiety disorder is the most prevalent anxiety disorder diagnosed in kids, affecting up to 4% of them, with an onset age of 7 years old.
The doctor who treats your child will conduct an extensive exam to rule out physical issues that could cause anxiety. If no physical issues are identified the doctor who treats your child will refer them to an expert in mental health who has experience in anxiety disorders. It could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is usually the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to teach them healthy ways of managing their feelings, increasing confidence in themselves and their independence, and developing resilience. The therapist will instruct parents on how they can help their child with anxiety. The use of medication, like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.
The therapist will determine the best treatment option for your child based on their individual needs. For instance, children who suffer from severe anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually in small steps until they are comfortable with them.
As children age their symptoms tend to decrease. There are some adults who have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adulthood. It can be difficult for them maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals like returning to college or moving to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, including other anxiety disorders depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of addiction disorders.
Prevention
Separation anxiety is common among many children. For others, anxiety over separation can be a major issue that affects their lives and hinders their participation in activities they love. Consult a mental health specialist if your child's fear is affecting their daily life.
Children suffering from separation anxiety suffer extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other important relationships. They are constantly worried about being abducted, lost or having an accident that will result in the loss of people who are close to them. They may be having a difficult time sleeping on their own at night or they may refuse to go to camp, school, or play dates without their parents.
Doctors are not able to diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child last at least four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents separately to get an entire picture of the situation. They may also ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in the life like family history or life events that might have triggered the separation anxiety.
Treatment for separation anxiety is determined according to the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might be worried that their parents could be in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is usually dismissed by them.
Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to understand and manage their anxiety. In some instances, a mixture of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is utilized.
Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Children need to be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave are not valid and they will only improve if provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.