Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect children and adolescents who worry excessively when they are separated from their parents, caregivers, or other important people. They may also worry about the possible negative effects of separation, such as getting lost or injured.

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

Signs and symptoms

Although some anxiety about being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People suffering from this disorder are concerned that something terrible could happen to their family member if they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They might also be worried about other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or being involved in an accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect people at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not thought to be caused by a specific cause however it can be triggered by changes in life, depression, or PTSD. People with this condition may feel a lot dependent on children or romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Others may perceive them as being too clingy or demanding.

This condition is characterized by excessive distress when one is cut off from their family, significant stress when away from home or at work, and recurrent dreams of separation. These symptoms can cause people avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, like going back to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have trouble sleeping or experience a variety of physical issues including headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being on their own.

A healthcare provider will ask you about your current and past symptoms, or those of your child in order to diagnose separation anxiety. They will ask you about your family and other relationships, to determine how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medication are used to treat this disorder. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the fear. They can also guide you deal with situations that scare you in a step-by-step process that will help your child learn how to handle separations and build their confidence. The medications can calm the mind and relax the body to ease your child's anxieties.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense anxiety when they are away from their home or relatives. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder can be more severe than normal anxiety and fear. They can last for up to six months for adults and for up to four weeks in children. They cause significant disruptions in the daily routine as well as school and work. It can also affect a person's socialization and ability to establish romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to diagnose this disorder. The doctor will want to know when the symptoms started and what is anxiety panic disorder makes them worse or better. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and the history of trauma dependent on the age of the person.

The provider will also try to determine whether the fear is due to another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, such as an illness, like cancer or a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes are family adversities such as mental illness in the family and domestic violence, abuse of substances and child neglect and abuse.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder among adults because there are no lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to those of other anxiety disorders. A person who suffers from separation anxiety disorder in adulthood usually experiences it after an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Some studies suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression later in life.

A variety of treatment options are available for people with separation anxiety disorder. There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can anxiety disorders go away overcome their phobia through therapy, such a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parent education and methods to improve their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess persists throughout elementary school, and is associated with physical symptoms and impedes everyday functioning. According to the BetterHelp online therapy service, separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder seen in children that affects up to 4 percent of them with an onset age of 7 years old.

The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough examination to rule out any physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are identified the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to an expert in mental health who has expertise in anxiety disorders. This could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is usually the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to help them learn healthy ways to manage their feelings, increasing self-confidence and independence, and building their resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how to support their child and help them deal with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is often 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 appropriate for them. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, for example, may benefit from a combination cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually, in small steps, until they feel comfortable with them.

As children age their symptoms tend to decrease. Some adults may still experience symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult for them keep relationships going or to achieve certain career goals, such as returning to college or going to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder have a high rate of co-occurring conditions, such as other anxiety disorders such as depression and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

The following is a list of preventatives.

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. For others it can be an issue that is serious and can interfere with their lives and stops them from participating in activities they like. If your child's worries are disrupting their routine consult an expert in mental health.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other figures of attachment. They are always worried about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident could result in the loss of those closest to them. They may also have trouble sleeping at night on their own or they may refuse to go to camp, school or play dates with their parents.

The signs of separation anxiety in children must last at least four weeks before a physician can determine the cause. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and parents separately to obtain an entire picture of the situation. They might also inquire about other anxiety disorders, family history, and life events that could have triggered or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies according to the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might worry that their parents could be in a car crash or attacked by a burglar. In contrast older children with separation anxiety often deny they have any anxiety about leaving the house.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated with behavioral therapy. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and control their anxieties. In some cases, a combination of therapies is used, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children experiencing separation anxiety. Children need to be taught that their requests for parents to not leave are not valid, and they will only improve if provided with clear, definite boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.