Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being separated from their caregivers, parents or other significant people in their lives. They might also be concerned that being separated could have negative consequences, for example, being hurt or lost.

Children with separation anxiety disorders are treated through psychotherapy and medications. Therapy involves teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually, with reassurance and support.

Symptoms

Although some anxiety about being separated 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 are worried that their family member will suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could mean getting lost or falling ill. They might also be worried about other situations that can separate them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or getting into a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect people at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety however it could be caused by major life changes or prior mental health issues like depression or PTSD. People with this condition can feel overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Some may see them as too demanding or clingy.

The symptoms of this condition include extreme stress when a person is cut off from their family, severe distress when they're away from home or work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, for example, returning to school. Children suffering from this condition could suffer physical issues like stomach pains when they worry about being left alone.

To diagnose this disorder, medical professionals will inquire about your or your child's past and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to find out how you have overcome separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medication are used to treat this disorder. Your therapist can show you and your child how to manage their fears. They can also assist you to approach feared situations through a step-by-step method that can help your child understand how to handle separations and build up their confidence. Medications can help to calm the mind and relax the body, which can ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense distress if they are away from their home or other close relatives. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that many people feel these symptoms disorder can be persistent, typically lasting for more than four weeks for children, and up to up to six months in adults. They cause major disruption to daily life and function at school and work. It Can Anxiety Disorder Cause Nausea also impact the social life of a person and their ability to develop romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose this disorder. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms started and what causes them to worsen or improve. Based on the age of the patient, a mental health professional may also ask about recent events that may have caused stress and any previous trauma history.

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

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults, since there are no tests for it and the symptoms could be similar to the symptoms of other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent among adults who have suffered an emotional trauma or a major loss. There are studies that suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression as they age.

There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can help people overcome their fears. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from parent education and techniques to improve their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout elementary school, and is associated with physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning. According to the BetterHelp online therapy service, separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder seen in children, affecting up to 4 percent of them, with a onset age of about 7 years.

The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough exam to determine if there are any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has experience in treating generalized anxiety disorder gad disorders. For children who are ill, this could be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is usually the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will assist your child to learn healthy ways to manage their feelings to increase self-confidence, confidence, 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, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Depending on your child's specific needs, their counselor will determine what treatment options are best for their specific needs. Children with severe anxiety, for example, may benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time, in small steps, until they are at ease with them.

As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults may experience symptoms of separation disorder in their adulthood. This could make it difficult for them to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, like returning to college or relocating to work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like other chronic anxiety disorder disorders, depression and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of substance use disorders.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common among many children. For others, separation generalized anxiety disorder symptoms is a serious problem that affects their lives and hinders their participation in the activities they enjoy. Consult a mental health professional if your child's fear is affecting their daily life.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children suffer from extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other attachment figures. They have persistent fears about being abducted, lost, or experiencing an accident that could cause the loss of loved ones to them. They might be having a difficult time sleeping on their own at night or they may refuse to go to school, camp or play dates with their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child are present for at least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and parents in a separate session to get the full picture. They may ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in the life, such as family history or life events that could have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorder differs based on the age of the child and the severity of symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For instance, they may worry that their parents might be in a car crash or harmed by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is usually denied by them.

Children with separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and helping them recognize and control their anxiety. In some instances, a combination of therapies is used, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults must be consistent in their responses to children experiencing separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their parents' pleas not to leave them not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, firm boundaries, and help in conquering their fears.