Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

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

Children suffering from separation anxiety can be treated with therapy and medication. Therapy focuses on teaching children to approach feared situations gradually with encouragement and support.

Symptoms

While some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people more anxious than others when it comes to separating from family members and primary caregiver figures. People with this condition fear that their family member will suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could mean that they get lost or falling ill. They might also be worried about other situations that could keep them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or being involved in a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect people at any age. It's not known what causes separation anxiety in adults however it could be triggered by major life changes or previous mental health disorders, such as depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel a lot dependent on their children or romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Others may see them as excessively demanding and clingy.

This condition is characterized by excessive distress when someone is separated from family, significant distress when away from home or working, and recurring thoughts of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel or other activities that entail physical separation from their families, such as going to school. Children with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or suffer from a range of physical ailments, such as stomach pains or headaches, in the event of anxiety about being alone.

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.

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medication are used to treat this condition. Your therapist can teach you and your child ways to manage their fears. They can help you and your child to learn to manage separations in a step-by- steps. Medicines can help to relax the mind and relax the body, which can help ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when apart from family members or close friends. 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 major disruptions to daily life at school, work, and home. It can also affect the person's social life and ability to form romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to determine the cause of the disorder. The doctor will want to be aware of the time when symptoms began and what causes anxiety disorders causes them to become more or less severe. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and trauma history in relation to the age of the person.

The provider 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 such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other possible causes include family-related adversities that affect children, such as parental mental illness, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, and exposure to traumatizing events, such as natural disasters, sexual assault, war, or the death of loved ones.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there are no lab tests and the symptoms could be similar to those of other fears. Someone who develops separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically is a victim of trauma or a significant loss. There are studies that suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in their childhood are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders as they age.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. Treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication, such as selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fears. Parents who suffer from this disorder can benefit from methods and education to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

While many children go through a stage that makes them terrified of strangers and clingy, when this anxiety persists through the elementary years and beyond, is manifested as physical symptoms and affects daily functioning, it may be an indication of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it can affect up to 4% of children, with a median age of 7 years.

The doctor who treats your child will conduct an exhaustive exam to rule out physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to a mental health professional with expertise in anxiety disorders. This could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is typically the first treatment option for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will work with your child to help them develop healthy ways to manage their emotions, building confidence and independence, as well as building resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how they can help their child and aid them deal with their generalized anxiety disorder Treatment. The use of medication, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is often prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

Depending on your child's specific needs, their counselor will determine what treatment options are best for the child. For example, children with severe anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and 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 usually decrease. However, some adults may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals such as returning to college or moving to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions, such as other types of anxiety disorders such as depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many kids with separation anxiety, it's a normal part of development. For others, separation anxiety is a serious problem that interferes in their lives and prevents them from participating in the activities they enjoy. If your child's anxiety is disrupting their daily routines, talk to a mental health professional.

Children with separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other significant attachment figures. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped, or lost or that an accident could cause them to lose those closest to themselves. They may struggle to fall asleep at night or refusing to go to play dates, school or camp without parents.

A child's separation anxiety symptoms must last at least four weeks before a physician can diagnose the problem. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and parents separately to obtain a full picture of the situation. They may also ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in the life, such as family history or life events that could cause separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation differs depending on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might worry that their parents are in a car crash or harmed by a burglar. In contrast older children with separation anxiety typically deny that they are worried about leaving their home.

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

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety over separation. Kids need to know that their requests 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.