Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being apart from their parents, caregivers or other important people in their lives. They might also be concerned that being separated could have negative consequences, such as being hurt or lost.

Children suffering from separation anxiety are treated through psychotherapy and medication. Therapy focuses on teaching children to deal with fearful situations slowly with encouragement and support.

Symptoms

Although some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal, separation anxiety disorder makes people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this disorder are concerned that something bad will occur to their family member when they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They may also fear other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones such as being abducted or getting into a car accident.

The first signs of this do anxiety disorders ever go away disorder typically begins in the earliest years of life, however adults can be affected at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety however, it could be caused by significant life changes or previous mental health issues, such as depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this condition can feel overly dependent on their spouses or children and display a lack of boundaries. Some may view them as overly demanding and clingy.

The signs of this disorder include excessive distress when someone is separated from their family, significant distress when they're away from home or work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can make people avoid traveling or other activities that require a physical separation from their families, such as going to school. Children with this condition may suffer physical issues such as headaches or stomach pains if they worry about being left alone.

To diagnose this disorder a healthcare provider will ask about your your child's past and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to find out how you've dealt with separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medication are utilized to treat generalized anxiety disorder this disorder. Your therapist can teach you and your child ways to manage their fears. They can assist you and your child learn to manage separations through a step by steps. The medications can calm the mind and body, as well as help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense anxiety when they are away from their home or close attachment figures. Unlike normal fear and worry that many people feel, the symptoms of this disorder can be persistent, typically lasting more than four weeks in children, and up to six months or longer in adults. They cause major disruption to daily activities and performance at school and work. It can also impact the person's social life and ability to develop romantic relationships.

To diagnose this disorder, a mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe their behavior. The doctor will inquire about when symptoms began and what triggers them to worsen or improve. Based on the age of the patient the mental health professional will also inquire about any recent events that could have caused stress, as well as any past trauma.

The provider will also try to determine whether the phobia is the result type of anxiety disorder a different medical condition that could cause similar symptoms, like an illness, such as cancer or a neurological disorder like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include family traumas like mental illness in the family or domestic violence, substance abuse and child neglect and abuse.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult as there are no lab tests for the condition, and it may have a variety of symptoms with other phobias. Someone who develops separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically is a victim of trauma or a significant loss. Some studies indicate that people diagnosed with separation disorder in childhood may be more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in various ways. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fear. People with this disorder often benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout elementary school, is accompanied with physical symptoms and interferes in daily activities. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder (on the main page), it can affect up to 4% of children, with an average age of 7 years.

The doctor who treats your child will conduct a thorough examination to rule out physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical ailments are discovered, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is typically the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will assist your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their emotions, building confidence in themselves and their independence, and building resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways they can aid their child suffering from anxiety. Treatment, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

The therapist will determine which treatment option is best for your child based on their specific needs. For example, children with extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually in small steps until they are at ease with them.

Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder improve as they grow older, and their symptoms will diminish. There are some adults who have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adult life. This makes it difficult for them to keep relationships or pursue certain career goals, like returning to college or moving for work. Adults suffering from separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders such as depression, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.

The following is a list of preventatives.

Separation anxiety is common in many children. For some, separation anxiety is a serious problem that can affect their lives and prevents participation in activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health specialist if your child's fear is affecting their daily life.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children suffer from extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other figures of attachment. They are constantly worried about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident will cause them to lose the people closest to themselves. They might be having a difficult time sleeping on their own at night, or they might refuse to go to camps, school, or play dates without their parents.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in children should last for at least four weeks before a doctor will diagnose the problem. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to get a full picture of the situation. They may ask about other anxiety disorders, family history, and changes in life that may have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might worry that their parents are in a car crash or attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is usually ignored by them.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to identify and manage their anxiety. In some cases it is necessary to combine therapies, including cognitive therapy, is used.

It's crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's anxiety about separation. Children must be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They will only be able to improve by receiving clear, firm boundaries, and assistance in overcoming their fears.