Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being separated from their parents, caregivers or other significant people in their lives. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, like getting lost or injured.

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

Signs and symptoms

Although some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people more anxious than others when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiving figures. People suffering from this condition are worried that something tragic will occur to their family member if they are separated, like getting lost or becoming ill. They may also fear other situations that can separate them from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or getting into 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 significant life changes or previous mental health issues, like depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel a lot dependent on their children or romantic partners, and lack boundaries. Others may view them as too clingy or demanding.

This condition is characterized by extreme distress when someone is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or at work, and frequent thoughts of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel 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 suffer from a range of physical problems like stomach pains or headaches, 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 ask you about your family, and other relationships, to determine how you've dealt with separation anxiety before.

Treatment for this disorder can include therapy for talk and, in some cases medications. Your therapist can teach you and your child ways to manage their fears. They can assist you and your child to understand how to handle separations in a step-by- step process. The medications can calm the mind, relax the body and ease your child's anxieties.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when separated from family members or close friends. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last up to six months for adults and four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions to daily life, school, and work. The condition can also hinder with the ability of a person to create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to diagnose the disorder. The provider will want to know when the symptoms started and what causes them to become more or less severe. A mental health professional will inquire 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, like an illness, like cancer or a neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other possible causes include family-related adversities that affect children like parental mental illness, addiction to drugs or domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, as well as exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, war, sexual assault or the loss of a loved one.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder among adults because there are no lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to other fears. Separation anxiety disorder is more common among adults who have suffered an emotional trauma or a major loss. Certain studies suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in their childhood are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders as they age.

Several 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 overcome their phobia through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), or medications such as selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from strategies and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Many children go through a phase that makes them anxious and clingy to strangers When this fear persists throughout elementary school and beyond, is associated with physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning it could be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service that separation anxiety disorder is the most frequent anxiety disorder seen in children with up to 4% of them, with a onset age of around 7 years.

Your child's doctor will perform an extensive exam to rule out physical problems that could cause anxiety. If no physical problems are identified the doctor who treats your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has expertise in anxiety disorders. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child discover healthy ways to manage their feelings and increase self-confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will also educate parents on how they can help their child with anxiety. Separation ocd anxiety disorder disorder is often treated with medication, including antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

The therapist will decide the best drugs for generalized anxiety disorder treatment plan for your child based upon their particular needs. Children with extreme anxiety, for instance, may benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time by introducing them in small increments until they are comfortable with them.

Often, children with separation anxiety disorder improve as they age, and their symptoms will diminish. However, some adults may experience symptoms of separation disorder in their adult life. This can make it difficult for them to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, like returning to college or moving for work. Adults suffering from separation disorder are more likely to develop co-occurring disorders such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. However, for some it can turn into an issue that causes problems with their lives and blocks them from participating in activities they enjoy. If your child's fears are disrupting their routine consult a mental health professional.

Children with separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other important attachment figures. They are always worried about being lost, kidnapped, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of those closest to them. They may also have a hard time falling asleep alone at night or refusing to go to camps, school or play dates with their parents.

The signs of separation anxiety in children must last for at least 4 weeks before a physician can diagnose the problem. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents in a separate interview to get an accurate picture of the situation. They might also inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety, family history, and life events that could have caused or made separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder behaviors disorder separation (Look At This) varies by the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might be worried that their parents could be in a car crash or be attacked by a burglar. By contrast older children with separation anxiety typically deny that they are anxious about leaving their home.

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

It is crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children need to understand that their parents' pleas not to leave them are not valid. They will only improve when they are given clear, definite boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.