Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being apart from their caregivers, parents or other important people in their lives. They might also be worried about the possible negative effects of separation, for example, getting lost or hurt.
Children with separation anxiety disorders can be treated with psychotherapy and medications. Therapy involves teaching the child to approach feared situations gradually with encouragement and support.
Signs and symptoms
Although some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people more anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiving figures. People with this condition are afraid that something tragic will happen to their family member while they are separated, for example, being lost or getting sick. They may also be fearful of other scenarios that could make them separated from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a a car accident.
This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It's unclear what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be caused by major life changes or previous mental health issues, such as depression or PTSD. People suffering from this disorder may be overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Others can view them as being too clingy and demanding.
This condition is characterized by excessive anxiety when a person is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or at work, and frequent dreams of separation. These symptoms can cause people avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, such as returning to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have difficulty sleeping or experience a variety of physical issues like headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being alone.
To diagnose this disorder, medical professionals will inquire about your or your child's past and present symptoms. They will inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.
Treatment for this disorder can include talking therapy and, in some cases medication. Your therapist will show you and your children how to cope with the fear. They can also help you to approach feared situations in a step-by-step process that will help your child learn how to handle separations and build their confidence. The medicines can help calm the mind and relax the body to help ease your child's fears.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder is likely to experience extreme anxiety when apart from family members or close friends. In contrast to the normal anxiety and fear that most people experience the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting for more than four weeks in children and up to six months in adults. They cause major disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. It can also impact a person's socialization and ability to establish romantic relationships.
To determine the cause of this disorder, a mental health professional will interview the patient and observe his or her behavior. The healthcare provider will want know when the symptoms started and what causes them to become worse or better. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and history of trauma dependent on the age of the patient.
The doctor will also attempt to determine whether the phobia is due to another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, such as an illness, such as cancer or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as mental illness in the family, domestic violence, substance abuse and neglect and abuse of children.
It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there are no lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent among adults who have suffered a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood.
Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from strategies and education to strengthen their relationship with their child.
Treatment
Although many children go through a stage where they are anxious and clingy to strangers If this fear persists into the elementary years and beyond and is associated with physical symptoms, and interferes with daily functioning it could be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children with a median age of 7 years.
The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough examination to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their 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. This could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is often the first option of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will assist your child to help them learn healthy ways of managing their feelings, increasing self-confidence and independence, and building resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how to assist their child and assist them cope with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is typically treated with medication, including antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Depending on your child's specific needs, their therapist will determine which treatment options are best for the child. For example, children with severe anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually, in small steps, until they feel at ease with them.
As children age their symptoms tend to decrease. However, some adults may be suffering from separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals such as returning to college or moving to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high rate of co-occurring conditions, such as other anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders.
The following is a list with preventions.
For many children with separation anxiety, it's an expected part of developing. For others, anxiety over separation can be a serious issue that affects their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they love. If your child's worries are disrupting their daily routines, talk to an expert in mental health.
Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other important family members. They are always worried about being abducted, lost, or having an accident that will lead to the loss of people who are close to them. They may also have a hard time sleeping on their own at night or refusing to go to school, camp or play dates with their parents.
Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child have lasted at minimum four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents separately to obtain an entire picture of the situation. They may ask about other anxiety disorders, family history, and life changes that might have caused or made the separation anxiety more severe.
Treatment for anxiety disorder separation differs depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For disorders anxiety , they may worry that their parents are in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. In contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety often deny they have any anxiety about leaving the house.
Children who have anxiety about separation are often treated with behavioral therapy. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and helping them learn to recognize and manage their fears. In some instances there is a mix of therapies, such as cognitive therapy, is used.
It is crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Kids need to know that their pleas to parents not to leave aren't valid, and they'll only get better if they're given clear, firm boundaries and a helping hand as they try to overcome their fears.