Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents who suffer from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being apart from their parents, caregivers or other important people in their lives. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, such as getting lost or injured.

Children suffering from separation anxiety can get treatment through psychotherapy and medication. Therapy includes teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety in relation to being separated from family and primary caregivers. People who suffer from this condition are worried that something terrible could occur to their family member if they are separated, like getting lost or becoming ill. They may also be fearful of other situations that could cause separation from their loved ones, including being abducted or having a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect people at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not known to be caused by anything specific however it can be triggered by changes in life, depression, or PTSD. People with this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Others may view them as too demanding or clingy.

The symptoms of this condition include extreme stress when a person is separated from their family members, severe distress when they're away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid traveling or other activities that require a physical separation from their families, like going to school. Children with this condition may have physical issues, like stomach pains if they worry about being alone.

A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your previous and current symptoms, anxiety disorder separation or those of your child in order to determine the cause of separation anxiety. They will also inquire 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 can show you and your child how to manage their fears. 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 deal with separations and build up their confidence. The medications can calm the brain, relax the body and 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 many people suffer from, the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting more than four weeks in children and six months or longer in adults. They can cause significant disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. The condition can also interfere with a person's ability to form romantic relationships and socialize.

To determine if this disorder is present A mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe their behavior. The provider will ask when symptoms first started and what causes them to get worse or improve. Depending on the individual's age, a mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that might be causing stress, as well as any history of trauma.

The doctor will also determine whether there is a medical condition that may cause similar symptoms. It could be an illness such as cancer or a neurological disorder such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family traumas like mental illness of the parents or domestic violence, abuse of substances and neglect and abuse of children.

It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder among adults because there are no tests for it and the symptoms can be similar to other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent in adults who have experienced a traumatic experience or significant loss. There are studies that suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

Several treatment options are available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as medications, such as selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can help overcome their fears. People with this disorder often benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout elementary school, is associated with physical symptoms and interferes in daily activities. 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 healthcare provider will conduct a thorough exam to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. This will likely be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

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

The therapist will determine the best treatment option for your child based upon their particular needs. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, like might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually, in small steps, until they are comfortable with them.

As children grow older their symptoms tend to decrease. However, some adults could be suffering from separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals such as returning to college or moving to work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, including other anxiety disorders, depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is an inevitable part of the development process. But for others it can turn into an issue that causes problems with their lives and blocks them from engaging in activities they like. If your child's worries are disrupting their daily routine discuss it with an expert in mental health.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children suffer from extreme anxiety and eating disorders when they are separated from their parents or other attachment figures. They are always worried about being abducted, lost or having an accident that will lead to the loss of people who are close to them. They might have difficulty falling asleep at night or refuse to go to play dates, school or camp without their parents.

The signs of separation anxiety disorder can be cured in children should last for at least four weeks before a doctor can diagnose the condition. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents separately to gather the complete picture. They might ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in the life such as family history or life events that could have triggered the separation anxiety disorder medication.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies by the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger typically express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their attachment figures like being worried that their parents might be hurt in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently ignored by them.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated with behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and helping them learn to recognize and manage their fears. In some cases, a combination of treatments is employed, including medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults must be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their pleas for parents to stay home are not valid and they'll only improve if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.