Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

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

Children suffering from separation anxiety are treated through psychotherapy and medication. The child is taught to tackle difficult situations slowly, with assurance.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety in the event of being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member will suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could mean that they get lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or being involved in an accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not thought to be caused by anything specific however it can be triggered by life changes or depression. It can also be caused by PTSD. People who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or their romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Some may view them as overly demanding and clingy.

The symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family members, severe distress when they’re away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel or other activities that require a physical separation from their families, such as going to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have trouble sleeping or may experience a variety of physical ailments including headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being left alone.

To diagnose this disorder a healthcare provider will ask about your your child’s previous and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to see how you’ve faced separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder consists of talk therapy and, in some cases medication. Your therapist will teach you and your child methods to manage their fears. They can help you and your child learn to manage separations in a step-by- procedure. The medications can calm the mind and relax the body to help ease your child’s fears.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when separated from family members or close friends. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that most people suffer from the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting more than four weeks in children, and up to up to six months in adults. They create major disruptions to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. It can also impact a person’s socialization and ability to form romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient’s behavior to diagnose the disorder. The healthcare provider will want determine when the symptoms began and what causes them to become more or less severe. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and the history of trauma, depending on the age of the patient.

The doctor will also attempt to determine whether the phobia is a result of another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, like cancer or a neurological issue, such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other causes include childhood family traumas like mental illness in the family, domestic violence, abuse of substances and child neglect and abuse.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there aren’t any lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced an emotional trauma or a major loss. There are studies that suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood.

A variety of treatment options are available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder . There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from. Therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can help people overcome the phobia. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from education for parents and methods 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 persists throughout elementary school, and is associated with physical symptoms and interferes in daily activities. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it can affect up to 4% of children and has an average age of 7 years old.

Your child’s healthcare professional will conduct a thorough examination to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered, your child’s healthcare provider will refer them to a mental health professional who has experience in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is typically the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will work with your child to teach them healthy ways of managing their emotions, boosting confidence in themselves and their independence, and building resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how they can assist their child and assist them cope with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is typically treated with medication, including antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child’s requirements, their counselor will determine what treatment options are best for them. For example, children with extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually in small steps until they feel at ease with them.

Often, children with separation anxiety disorder improve as they age, and their symptoms will diminish. Some adults may still experience symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, like returning to college or relocating to work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like other anxiety disorders such as depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many kids, separation anxiety is an expected part of developing. For others, anxiety over separation can be a major issue that interferes in their lives and prevents participation in activities they enjoy. Consult a mental health professional if your child’s anxiety is affecting their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children experience severe anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other family members. They are always worried about being kidnapped or lost, or that an accident could cause them to lose the people closest to themselves. They may struggle to fall to sleep at night, or refusing to go to play dates, school, or camp without their parents.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last at least four weeks before a doctor can diagnose the problem. The healthcare professional may interview both the child and parents separately to get the full picture. They may also ask questions about anxiety disorders or changes in the life, such as family history and life events that may have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the child’s age and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old tend to 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. However older children who suffer from separation anxiety often deny they have any anxiety about leaving home.

Behavioral therapy is a popular treatment for children with separation anxiety. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and helping them learn to recognize and control their fears. In some instances it is necessary to combine treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children experiencing anxiety about separation. Kids need to know that their pleas to parents not to leave are not valid, and they will only get better if they’re given clear, firm boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.