Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder affects adolescents and children who worry frequently when they are not from their caregivers, parents or other important people. They might also be concerned that separation could have negative consequences, for example, being hurt or lost.

Children with separation anxiety disorder are treated through therapy and medication. The child is taught to handle the fearful situations slowly, and with assurance.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People suffering from this disorder are concerned that something terrible could occur to their family member when they are separated, such as being lost or getting sick. They might also be worried about other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones, like being kidnapped or getting into a car accident.

The first signs of this anxiety disorder typically occurs in childhood, though adults can be affected at any age. It's not known what causes separation anxiety in adults, but it can be triggered by significant life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this condition can feel overly dependent on their children or romantic partners and display a lack of boundaries. Others may perceive them as being too demanding or clingy.

The signs of this disorder include a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family members, severe distress when they're away from work or home and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that involve the physical separation of their families, such as going to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have difficulty sleeping or may experience a variety of physical problems like headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being alone.

A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your current and past symptoms, or those of your child in order to determine if you suffer from separation anxiety. They will also inquire 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 show you and your child methods to deal with their fears. They can also help you to approach feared situations by guiding you through the steps that can help your child understand how to handle separations and build their confidence. Medicines can help to relax the brain and relax the body, which can ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when apart from the 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 for adults and four weeks in children. They can cause significant disruptions in the daily routine at school, work, and home. The condition can also interfere with the ability of a person to create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to determine the cause of the disorder. The provider will ask when symptoms first started and what causes them to get worse or improve. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and trauma history in relation to the age of the person.

The provider will also try to determine whether the fear is a result of another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, such as cancer or a neurological issue such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other possible causes are familial adversities in childhood like parental mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and exposure to traumatic events like natural catastrophes or sexual assault, war or the loss of loved ones.

It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults because there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms may be similar to other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent for adults who have had a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who suffer from separation disorders in childhood are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear with therapy, like a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from parental education and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout elementary school, is accompanied with physical symptoms and interferes in everyday functioning. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children the disorder of separation anxiety is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children with an average age of 7 years.

The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough exam to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical issues are found the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has expertise in anxiety disorders. This could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is often the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will assist your child to learn how to manage their emotions, increase self-confidence and independence, and build resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways to aid their child suffering from anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is often treated by medication, for example antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Depending on your child's specific needs, the therapist will determine which treatment options are most appropriate for their specific needs. Children with severe generalized anxiety disorder cognitive behavioral therapy, like could benefit from a combination cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time in small steps until they are comfortable with them.

As children age their symptoms typically decrease. However, some adults might still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. This could make it difficult for them to maintain relationships or achieve certain career goals, such as going back to college or moving for work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.

The following is a list with preventions.

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. medicine for generalized anxiety disorder others, anxiety over separation can be a serious issue that can affect their lives and prevents participation in activities they love. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routine consult an expert in mental health.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children experience severe distress when separated from parents or other family members. They are always worried about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident could cause them to lose those closest to them. They may also have trouble sleeping on their own at night or they may refuse to go to school, camp, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at minimum four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to get an accurate picture of the situation. They might also inquire about any other anxiety disorders or family history as well as changes in life that may have triggered or made the separation anxiety more severe.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies by the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might worry that their parents are in a car crash or harmed by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently ignored by them.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety disorders definition. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their anxieties. In some instances, a combination of treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Children need to be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave are not valid, and they will only improve if given clear, firm boundaries and a helping hand as they try to overcome their fears.