Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder affects adolescents and children who worry frequently when they are not from their parents, caregivers, or other important people. They might also worry about a possible negative outcome of separation, such as getting lost or injured.

Children with separation anxiety disorder can get treatment through psychotherapy and medication for social anxiety disorder. The child is taught to tackle the fearful situations slowly, and with confidence.

Signs and symptoms

While some anxiety over being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People suffering from this disorder fear that their loved ones will be the victim of a tragic incident when they are separated. This could include getting lost or getting sick. They might also be worried about other situations that can separate them from their loved ones, drugs for social anxiety disorder example, being kidnapped or getting into 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 caused by major life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. The people who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or their romantic partners and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others may see them as excessively demanding and clingy.

This condition is marked by a high level of distress when someone is separated from family, significant distress while away from home or at work, and recurrent thoughts of separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid traveling or other activities that entail physical separation from their families, for example, going to school. Children who suffer from this condition might experience physical problems such as headaches or stomach pains if they worry about being alone.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your past and current symptoms, or those of your child in order to diagnose separation anxiety. They will inquire about your family and other relationships, to determine how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Treatment for this disorder includes talking therapy and, in some instances medications. Your therapist will teach you and your children how to cope with the fears. They can also guide you to approach feared situations through a step-by-step method that will help your child learn how to handle separations and build up their confidence. The medication can relax the brain, relax the body and help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense anxiety when they are away from their home or other close family members. Unlike normal fear and worry that people generally suffer from the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting more than four weeks for children, and up to more than six months for adults. They cause major disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. It can also affect the person's social life 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 started and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. Depending on the person's age the mental health professional will also inquire about any recent events that could have caused stress and any previous trauma history.

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

It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to those of other anxiety disorders. A person who develops separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically does so after experiencing trauma or a significant loss. There are studies that suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression later in life.

A variety of treatment options are available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their phobia through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents with this disorder can benefit from strategies and education to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess continues throughout the elementary school years, and is manifested by 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 a median age of 7 years.

Your child's healthcare professional will conduct a thorough examination to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical issues are found, your child's healthcare provider will refer them to a mental health professional with expertise in anxiety disorders. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child learn how to manage their emotions and increase self-confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how to help their child and aid them deal with their anxiety. The use of medication, like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are typically used in conjunction with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

The therapist will determine the best treatment plan for your child based on their individual needs. For example, children with severe anxiety disorder symptoms anxiety might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety over time in small steps until they are comfortable.

As children grow older their symptoms typically decrease. However, some adults might continue to have symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult for them keep relationships going or to achieve certain career goals such as returning to school or moving to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like other types of anxiety disorders, depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

The following is a list of preventatives.

Separation anxiety is common among many children. For others, it can become an issue that causes problems with their lives and stops them from engaging in 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 family members. They are always worried about being lost, kidnapped or having an accident that will lead to the loss of loved ones to them. They might also have trouble falling asleep alone 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 least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents individually to obtain the complete picture. They may ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or life changes, such as family history or life events that could cause separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their family members for example, a fear that their parents could be injured in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. By contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety often deny they are worried about leaving the house.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated with behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and control their anxieties. In some instances there is a mix of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is used.

Adults must be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Children must be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They can only grow by receiving clear, unambiguous boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.