Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being separated from their parents, caregivers or other important people in their lives. They may also worry that being separated could have negative consequences, such as getting hurt or lost.
Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children with separation anxiety disorders. Therapy focuses on teaching children to manage fearful situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.
Symptoms
While some anxiety about being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to separating from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this condition are afraid that something terrible could occur to their family member when they are separated, like being lost or getting sick. They might also be worried about other situations that could keep them from their loved ones such as being abducted or getting into a car accident.
This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety however it could be caused by major life changes or by prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. People with this disorder may feel too dependent on their spouses or children and exhibit poor boundaries. Some may view them as overly demanding and clingy.
This condition is characterized by excessive distress when one is cut off from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or working, and recurring dreams involving separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid traveling or other activities that entail the physical separation of their families, for example, going to school. Children with this condition may experience physical problems like stomach pains if they worry about being left alone.
To determine the severity of this disorder, a healthcare provider will ask about your your child's past and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.
Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medication are utilized to treat this condition. Your therapist can teach you and your child ways to cope with their fears. They can also guide you approach situations that are feared by guiding you through the steps that helps your child learn how to deal with separations and build their confidence. The medication can relax the mind and relax the body to help ease your child's fears.
Diagnosis
Separation anxiety disorder can cause individuals to feel intense stress when they are away from their home or other close relatives. Unlike normal fear and worry that people generally experience these symptoms disorder are persistent, often lasting longer than four weeks for children, and up to up to six months for adults. They can cause significant disruption to the daily routine and functioning at 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 their behavior. The provider will ask when symptoms began and what triggers them to worsen or improve. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and history of trauma in relation to the age of the patient.
The doctor will also decide whether there is another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms. This may be due to an illness like cancer, or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as mental illness in the family, domestic violence, substance abuse and child abuse and neglect.
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 anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced trauma or a significant loss. disorders anxiety suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression later in life.
Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. People with separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parental education and techniques to improve their relationship with their children.
Treatment
Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess continues throughout elementary school, and is accompanied with physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning. 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.
The doctor who treats your child will conduct an extensive exam to rule out physical ailments that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are identified, your child's healthcare provider will refer them to a mental health professional with expertise in anxiety disorders. For children, this will most likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is usually the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child discover healthy ways to manage their feelings to increase self-confidence, confidence, independence, and build resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how to help their child and aid them cope with their anxiety. Medication, including antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are typically prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.
Depending on your child's specific needs, the therapist will determine which treatment options are most appropriate for their specific needs. For instance, children who suffer from extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that cause anxiety gradually in small steps until they are comfortable with them.
As children get older their symptoms tend to decrease. However, some adults could still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals like returning to college or moving to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.
Prevention
Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. However, for some it can be a serious problem that interferes with their lives and blocks them from participating in activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's anxiety is affecting their daily life.
Children with separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other important relationships. They are constantly concerned about being snatched away or lost or that an accident could result in the loss of those closest to themselves. They may struggle to fall asleep at night or refuse to go to school, play dates, or camp without their parents.
The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last for at least 4 weeks before a physician can determine the cause. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents separately to obtain an accurate picture of the situation. They may inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety, family history, and life events that could have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.
Treatment for separation anxiety disorder differs based on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children usually express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their family members like being worried that their parents will get in a car crash or be attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is usually dismissed by them.
Children who have anxiety about separation are usually treated with behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and manage their fears. In some cases, a mixture of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is utilized.
Adults should be consistent in their responses to children experiencing separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave are not valid, and they'll only improve if provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.