Anxiety Disorder Separation: A Simple Definition

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect adolescents and children who worry overly when they are away from their caregivers, parents or other important people. They may also worry that separation could have negative consequences, such as being hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapy includes teaching the child to approach feared situations gradually, with reassurance and support.

Symptoms

While some anxiety over being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to separating from family members and primary caregiver figures. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their loved ones will be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could include getting lost or falling ill. They may also fear other situations that could keep them from their loved ones, such as being abducted or being involved in a car accident.

The onset of this anxiety disorder usually occurs in the earliest years of life, however adults can be affected at any age. Adult separation anxiety isn't known to be caused by any specific factor however it could be triggered by life changes or depression. It can also be caused by PTSD. People with this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or romantic partners and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others may view them as being too demanding or clingy.

The symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family, severe distress when they are away from their home or at work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that entail the physical separation of their families, like going to school. Children who suffer from this condition might have physical issues, such as headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being on their own.

A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your previous and current symptoms, or the symptoms of your child to diagnose separation anxiety disorder diagnosis. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to find out how you've dealt with separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in some instances, medications are used to treat this disorder. Your therapist will teach you and your children how to deal with the anxiety. They can assist you and your child understand how to handle separations through a step by procedure. Medications can help to calm the mind and relax the body, which can help ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation phobic anxiety disorder will feel extreme distress when apart from home or close attachment figures. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last up to six months for adults and for up to four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions in daily life, school, and work. The condition can also hinder with a person's ability to form romantic relationships and socialize.

To diagnose this disorder, a mental health professional will interview the patient and observe his or her behavior. The provider will ask when symptoms began and what anxiety disorder causes the symptoms to become worse or better. Depending on the individual's age the mental health professional will also inquire about recent events that might have caused stress, as well as any past trauma.

The provider will also determine if there is another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms. This could be an illness such as cancer or an underlying neurological disorder, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other possible causes include family-related adversities that affect children like parental mental illness, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, and experiences with trauma such as natural catastrophes and sexual assault, war or the loss of loved ones.

Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, as there are no lab tests for the condition and it may share a number of symptoms with other anxiety disorders. A person who develops a separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically is a victim of trauma or a significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who suffer from separation disorders in childhood are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later in life.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. Therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and medications, like selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can help people overcome the phobia. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parent education and methods to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and impedes daily functioning. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children, with a median age of 7 years.

The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough examination to determine if there are any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. For children, this will most likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

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

The therapist will determine the best med for social Anxiety disorder treatment option for your child based on their specific needs. For instance, children suffering from severe anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves gradually expose your child to situations that cause anxiety in small steps until they feel comfortable.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder improve as they grow older and their symptoms diminish. However, some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships or achieve certain career goals, such as returning to school or relocating for work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorder, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is a normal part of development. For others, it can become a serious problem that interferes with their lives and prevents them from engaging in activities they like. If your child's anxiety is disrupting their routine, talk to a mental health professional.

Children suffering from separation anxiety experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other significant relationships. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped, or lost or that an accident could cause them to lose the people closest to themselves. They might also have a hard time sleeping on their own at night or they may refuse to go to camp, school, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child last at minimum four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents separately to obtain a full picture of the situation. They might also inquire about other anxiety disorders or family history, as well as life events that could have triggered or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety differs based on the age of the child, and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their attachment figures, such as being worried that their parents will get in a car accident or be attacked by burglars. By contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety usually deny that they are anxious about leaving their home.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and helping them learn to recognize and manage their fears. In some cases it is necessary to combine treatments is employed, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety over separation. Children need to understand that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They will only improve by receiving clear, definite boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.