Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents who suffer from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being away from their parents, caregivers or other important people in their lives. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, for example, getting lost or being hurt.
Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy includes teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.
Symptoms
Although some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal, separation anxiety disorder makes people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to separating from family members and primary caregiver figures. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member will be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could include getting lost or getting sick. They might also be worried about other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones, such as being abducted or being involved in an accident.
This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It isn't known what causes separation anxiety in adults however, it could 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 romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Others may view them as being too clingy or demanding.
This condition is marked by a high level of anxiety when a person is separated from family, significant distress when away from home or at work, and frequent thoughts of separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that require the physical separation of their families, like going to school. Children suffering from this condition could experience physical problems like stomach pains when they are worried about being on their own.
To diagnose this disorder, the healthcare professional will inquire about your your child's past and current symptoms. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to find out how you have overcome separation anxiety in the past.
Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist can show you and your child methods to deal with their fears. They can also help you deal with situations that scare you in a step-by-step process that can help your child understand how to handle separations and build up their confidence. The medicines can help calm the mind, relax the body and help ease your child's fears.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from separation anxiety will experience extreme stress when separated from home or close attachment figures. In contrast to the normal anxiety and fear that people generally feel the symptoms of this disorder can be persistent, typically lasting longer than four weeks in children and more than six months in adults. They can cause significant disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. It can also affect 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 the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will want be aware of the time when symptoms began and what triggers them to be more or less severe. Based on the age of the patient the mental health professional may also ask about any recent events that may have caused stress, as well as any history of trauma.
The doctor will also try to determine if the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, such as cancer or a neurological disorder like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include family traumas like parental mental illnesses and substance abuse, domestic violence and neglect and abuse of children.
Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, because there aren't any laboratory tests for the condition and it may have a variety of symptoms with other fears. Anyone who develops a separation anxiety disorder in adulthood usually is a victim of trauma or a significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who suffer from separation disorders in childhood may be more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders as adults.
Several treatment options are available for people with separation anxiety disorder. There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from. Treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can help overcome the phobia. Parents with this disorder can benefit from strategies and education to improve their relationship with their child.
Treatment
Although many children go through a stage when they become terrified of strangers and clingy If this fear persists into elementary school and beyond and is manifested as 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, separation anxiety disorder affects up to 4% and has an average age of 7 years.
Your child's healthcare provider will conduct a thorough exam to identify any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical ailments are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. This could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is usually the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will work with your child to help them learn healthy ways to manage their emotions, building confidence in themselves and their independence, and building their resilience. anxiety disorder help will also educate parents on how they can assist their child and assist them with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated by medication, for example antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Depending on your child's specific requirements, their therapist will determine which treatment options are best for their specific needs. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, like might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety in small steps until they are comfortable.
Often, children with separation anxiety disorder will improve as they age, and their symptoms will decrease. There are some adults who have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adulthood. It can be challenging for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or moving to work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety have a high percentage of co-occurring disorders, including other types of anxiety disorders depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of substance use disorders.
Prevention
For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is an expected part of developing. However, for some it can turn into an issue that causes problems with their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they like. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's fear affects their daily routine.
Children with separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other major attachment figures. They are always worried about being snatched away or lost or that an accident might cause them to lose those closest to themselves. They may also have a hard time sleeping at night on their own, or they might refuse to go to school, camp, or play dates without their parents.
A child's separation anxiety symptoms should last for at least four weeks before a doctor can diagnose the problem. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to get an entire picture of the situation. They may ask about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history, as well as life events that could have caused or made separation anxiety more severe.
Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies by the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old typically express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their attachment figures, such as the fear that their parents might be hurt in a car accident or be attacked by burglars. By contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety often deny they are worried about leaving home.
Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and helping them identify and manage their anxiety. In some instances, a mixture of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is used.
It is crucial 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 aren't valid, and they'll only improve if given clear, firm boundaries and a helping hand as they try to overcome their fears.