Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects children and adolescents who worry frequently when they are not from their caregivers, parents or other important people. They may also worry that separation could have negative consequences, like getting hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medications can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy focuses on teaching children to deal with fearful situations slowly by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety in the event of being separated from family and primary caregivers. People with this condition fear that their loved ones will be the victim of a tragic incident when they are separated. This could mean getting lost or getting sick. They might also be scared of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved one, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a an accident in a vehicle.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. Adult separation anxiety isn't thought to be caused by any specific factor, but it may be triggered by life changes or depression. It can also be caused by PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel a lot dependent on their children or romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Some may view them as excessively demanding and clingy.

The signs of this disorder include excessive distress when a person is separated from their family members, severe distress when they are away from work or home and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel or other activities that involve 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 issues like headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being on their own.

To determine the severity of this disorder, a healthcare provider will ask about your your child's past and current symptoms. They will inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder includes talk therapy and, in some cases medications. Your therapist will show you and your children how to deal with the fears. They can also assist you deal with situations that scare you through a step-by-step method that helps your child learn how to cope with separations and increase their confidence. The use of medication can help calm the mind and relax the body, which can help ease the anxiety of your child.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder can cause a person to feel extreme stress when they are away from their home or other close family members. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that most people feel, the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting more than four weeks for children and up to six months for adults. They cause major disruption to daily activities and performance at school and work. The condition can also cause problems with a person's ability to create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose the disorder. The doctor will want to be aware of the time when symptoms began and what causes them to become worse or better. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and trauma history dependent on the age of the patient.

The provider will also try to determine whether the fear is due to another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, such as cancer or a neurological condition like cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other causes include family traumas like parental mental illnesses or domestic violence, substance abuse and child neglect and abuse.

It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder among adults because there are no tests for it and the symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of other fears. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent for adults who have had trauma or a significant 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 in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in various ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear through therapy, such a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parental education and techniques to improve their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Many children go through a phase that makes them clingy and fearful of strangers, when this anxiety persists throughout elementary school and beyond and is manifested as physical symptoms and interferes with daily functioning, it may be an indication of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children the disorder of separation anxiety affects up to 4% and has a median age of 7 years.

Your child's doctor will perform a thorough examination to rule out physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are found the doctor who treats your child will refer them to an expert in mental health who has expertise in anxiety disorders. This could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is often the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will work with your child to help them learn healthy ways to manage their feelings, increasing self-confidence and independence, and building their resilience. The therapist will instruct parents on how they can aid their child suffering from anxiety disorders in women. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated by medication, for example antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

The therapist will decide which treatment option is best for your child based upon their particular needs. Children with extreme anxiety, for instance could benefit from a combination cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually in small steps until they feel comfortable with them.

As children age, their symptoms usually decrease. Some adults may still experience symptoms of separation disorder in their adulthood. It can be difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals like returning to school or moving to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring disorders, including other anxiety disorders such as depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders.

The following is a list of preventatives.

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. However, for some, it can become an issue that is serious and can interfere with their lives and prevents them from engaging in activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's fear affects their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children experience severe distress when separated from parents or other figures of attachment. They are constantly worried about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident could result in the loss of those closest to them. They may struggle to fall asleep at night or refuse to go to play dates, school, or camp without their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child last at least four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents separately to get a full picture of the situation. They may ask about any other anxiety disorders or family history as well as life events that could have caused or made separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old typically express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their family members for example, the fear that their parents might be hurt in a car crash or be attacked by an intruder. Separation anxiety in older children is often dismissed by them.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children, and helping them recognize and control their anxiety. In some instances the combination of treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults must be consistent in their responses to children experiencing anxiety about separation. Children need to be taught that their pleas for parents to stay home are not valid, and they'll only improve if given clear, precise boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.