Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being away from their caregivers, parents or other important people in their lives. They might also be worried about a possible negative outcome of separation, like getting lost or injured.

Children with separation anxiety disorders can get treatment through therapy and medication. Therapy involves teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually with encouragement and support.

Signs and symptoms

While some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to separating from family members and primary caregiver figures. People suffering from this condition are afraid that something bad will occur to their family member if they are separated, for example, losing their way or falling ill. They might also be worried about other situations that could keep them from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or being involved in a car accident.

The onset of this disorder usually occurs in the early years of childhood, but adults can be affected at any time. Adult separation anxiety isn't believed to be caused by any specific factor however it could be caused by life changes, depression, or PTSD. People with this condition may feel a lot dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and may lack boundaries. Others may view them as being overly demanding or clingy.

This condition is characterized by extreme anxiety when a person is separated from their family, significant stress while away from home or working, and recurring dreams of separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from their families, like going to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have trouble sleeping or suffer from a range of physical ailments, such as headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being alone.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your current and past symptoms, or those of your child to determine if you suffer from separation anxiety. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to determine how you've dealt with separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder can include talk therapy and, in some instances medication. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the fears. They can also guide you approach situations that are feared through a step-by-step method that will help your child learn how to deal with separations and increase their confidence. The medication can relax the mind and body, as well as help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder can cause a person to feel extreme stress when they are away from their home or close relatives. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that most people experience the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting more than four weeks for children and six months or longer in adults. They create major disruptions to daily life and function at work and school. It can also affect a person's socialization and ability to establish romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and examine the patient's behavior to diagnose this disorder. The provider will want to know when the symptoms started and what triggers them to be more or less severe. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and history of trauma in relation to the age of the person.

The doctor will also try to determine if the phobia is due to another medical condition that could cause similar symptoms, such as an illness, such as cancer or a neurological condition like cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other possible causes include childhood family adversities like parental mental illness, addiction to drugs child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, as well as experiences with trauma, such as natural catastrophes or war, sexual assault or the death of loved ones.

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 anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more common for adults who have had trauma or a significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who suffer from separation disorders in their early years may be more likely to develop depression and hyper anxiety disorder disorders later in life.

There are a variety of treatment options available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and medications, such as selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can help people overcome the phobia. Parents who suffer from this disorder can benefit from methods and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout elementary school, is associated with physical symptoms and interferes in daily activities. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety eating disorder disorder is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children, with an average age of 7 years old.

Your child's healthcare provider will perform a thorough exam to rule out any physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is usually the first treatment option for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will work with your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their emotions, building self-confidence and independence, and building their resilience. The therapist will also educate parents on ways to aid their child suffering from anxiety. The use of medication, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is often prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

The therapist will determine which treatment option is best for your child based on their specific needs. For instance, children suffering from 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 by introducing them in small increments until they feel comfortable with them.

As children age their symptoms typically decrease. However, some adults could continue to have symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships or achieve certain career goals, such as going back to college or relocating to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias, and post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common in many children. For some, separation anxiety can be a serious issue that affects their lives and hinders their participation in activities they enjoy. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routines discuss it with a mental health professional.

Children suffering from separation anxiety experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other major attachment figures. They have persistent fears about being snatched away, missing, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of loved ones to them. They might have difficulty falling asleep at night or refuse to go to play dates, school, or camp without their parents.

A child's separation anxiety symptoms must last at least four weeks before a physician can determine the cause. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents in a separate interview to get an accurate picture of the situation. They might also inquire about any other anxiety disorders list disorders, family history, and changes in life that may have caused or made the separation anxiety more severe.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies according to the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might worry that their parents might be involved in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is usually dismissed by them.

Children who have anxiety about separation are often treated with behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and manage their anxieties. In some instances, a combination of treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.

It's important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's anxiety about separation. Kids need to know that their requests for parents to stay home are not valid and they will only improve if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.