Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

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

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

Signs and symptoms

Although some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people more anxious than others when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member will be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could mean that they get lost or becoming sick. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could make them separated from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a a car accident.

The first signs of this anxiety disorder typically begins in the earliest years of life, however adults can be affected at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not known to be caused by any specific factor, but it may be caused by life changes such as depression, depression, or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might be overly dependent on their children or romantic partners, and may lack boundaries. Others may perceive them as being overly clingy or demanding.

This condition is characterized by excessive anxiety when a person is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or working, and recurring dreams involving separation. These symptoms can make people avoid travel or other activities that entail physical separation from their families, for example, going to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or experience a variety of physical ailments like headaches or stomachaches, when they worry about being on their own.

A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your past and current symptoms, or those of your child in order to diagnose separation anxiety. They will ask you about your family, and other relationships, to see 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 will teach you and your children how to cope with the anxiety. They can assist you and your child learn how to deal with separations in a step by steps. Medications can help to calm the brain and relax the body, which can ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes people to experience extreme anxiety when they are away from their home or close family members. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last for up to six months in adults and up to four weeks in children. They cause major disruptions to daily life, school, and work. It can also affect a person's socialization and ability to establish romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to diagnose the disorder. The provider will ask when symptoms first started and what anxiety disorder triggers them to worsen or improve. Based on the age of the patient the mental health professional may also ask about recent events that could have caused stress, as well as any history of trauma.

The doctor will also decide whether there is another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms. This could be a condition such as cancer, or a neurological disorder such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as mental illness in the family or substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult because there aren't any laboratory tests for the condition and it may have a variety of symptoms with other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people 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. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear through therapy, such a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from parental education and methods to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and impedes daily functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children the disorder of separation anxiety affects up to 4%, with an average age of 7 years.

Your child's doctor will perform an extensive exam to rule out physical ailments that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are found the doctor who treats your child will refer them to an expert in mental health who has expertise in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

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

Based on the specific needs of your child's needs, their therapist will determine which treatment options are appropriate for their specific needs. For instance, children suffering from severe anxiety might benefit from a combination 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 at ease with them.

As children get older their symptoms tend to decrease. However, some adults might be suffering from separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult for them to keep relationships or achieve certain career goals, such as returning to college or moving for work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions, such as other anxiety disorders such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

The following is a list of preventatives.

For many children who are anxious about separation, it is a normal part of development. For others, separation anxiety can be a major issue that affects their lives and hinders their participation in the activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's fear is affecting their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience extreme distress when separated from parents or other attachment figures. They are always worried about being kidnapped, or lost or that an accident might result in the loss of those closest to themselves. They might also have a hard time sleeping at night on their own or refusing to go to camp, school or play dates without their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child last at least four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents in a separate interview to get a full picture of the situation. They might also inquire about any other anxiety disorders, family history, and life changes that might have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety is determined according to the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might be worried that their parents are involved in a car accident or harmed by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently ignored by them.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and control their anxieties. In some cases it is necessary to combine therapies, including cognitive therapy, is employed.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety disorders symptoms over separation. Kids need to know that their pleas for parents to not leave are not valid, and they'll only get better if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.