Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder have a tendency to worry about being away from their caregivers, parents or other significant people in their lives. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, such as getting lost or being injured.

Children suffering from separation anxiety are treated through psychotherapy and medications. The child is taught to approach difficult situations slowly, with reassurance.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family and primary caregivers. People who suffer from this condition are afraid that something bad will occur to their family member while they are separated, for example, losing their way or falling ill. They may also fear other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or being involved in an accident.

The onset of this anxiety disorder usually occurs in the early years of childhood, but adults can be affected at any age. It’s not known what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be triggered by major life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might be overly dependent on children or romantic partners, and lack boundaries. Some may view them as being too demanding and clingy.

Symptoms of this condition include extreme stress when a person is separated from their family, significant distress when they’re away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that entail physical separation from their families, like going to school. Children with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or experience a variety of physical problems including headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being on their own.

To diagnose this disorder, the healthcare professional will inquire about your or your child’s past and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you’ve faced separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in some instances, medication are utilized to treat this condition. Your therapist can show you and your child how to cope with their fears. They can assist you and your child understand how to handle separations through a step by procedure. The medications can calm the brain, relax the body and reduce your child’s anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder can cause individuals to feel intense stress when they are away from their home or other close family members. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last for up to six months for adults and for up to four weeks in children. They can cause significant disruptions in the daily routine at school, work, and home. It can also impact the social life of a person and their ability to form romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and examine the patient’s behavior to determine the cause of the disorder. The healthcare provider will want be aware of the time when symptoms began and what triggers them to be more or less severe. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and trauma history dependent on the age of the patient.

The doctor will also try to determine whether the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, like an illness such as cancer or a neurological condition like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other possible causes are familial adversities in childhood like parental mental illness, addiction to drugs child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, and exposure to traumatizing events such as natural catastrophes and sexual assault, war or the death of a loved one.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult because there aren’t any laboratory tests for the condition, and it can share many symptoms with 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 diagnosed with separation disorder in childhood are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later in life.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, such a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from methods and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Although many children go through a phase where they are clingy and fearful of strangers When this fear persists into elementary school and beyond, is manifested as physical symptoms and affects daily functioning, it may be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder affects up to 4% with an average age of 7 years.

Your child’s doctor will perform an exhaustive exam to rule out physical ailments that could cause anxiety. If no physical ailments are found, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is typically the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will help your child learn how to manage their emotions and increase self-confidence and independence, and build resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how they can support their child and help them cope with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is typically treated with medication, such as antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child’s requirements, their therapist will determine which 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 is when your child is exposed to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually, in small steps, until they are comfortable with them.

As children grow older their symptoms typically decrease. However, some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. disorders anxiety makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, like going back to college or relocating to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high rate of co-occurring disorders, including other anxiety disorders such as depression and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of substance use disorders.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common among many children. For some, separation anxiety can be a major issue that can affect their lives and hinders their participation in the activities they enjoy. If your child’s anxiety is disrupting their daily routines consult a mental health professional.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children experience extreme distress when separated from parents or other attachment figures. They have persistent fears about being lost, kidnapped, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of loved ones to them. They may be having a difficult time sleeping at night on their own or refusing to go to school, camp or play dates without their parents.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last at least four weeks before a doctor can diagnose the condition. The healthcare professional may interview both the child and parents individually to get the full picture. They might also inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety, family history, and life changes that might have caused or made separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety differs based on the child’s age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might worry that their parents are in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently denied by them.

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 employed.

Adults must be consistent in their responses to children experiencing anxiety over separation. Children need to be aware that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They will only improve if they receive clear, unambiguous boundaries and help in conquering their fears.