Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being apart from their parents, caregivers or other significant people in their lives. They might also be concerned that being separated could have negative consequences, for example, being lost or hurt.
Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorder. The child is taught to approach difficult situations slowly, with assurance.
Symptoms
While some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people more anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People with this condition are afraid that something terrible could occur to their family member while they are separated, for example, getting lost or becoming ill. They might also be scared of other scenarios that could cause separation from their loved one, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a an accident with a car.
The onset of this disorder typically occurs in childhood, though adults can be affected at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not believed to be caused by a specific cause however it can be triggered by changes in life, depression, or PTSD. The people who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or their romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Others may see them as overly clingy and demanding.
The symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family members, severe distress when they're away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel or other activities that require physical separation from their families, like going to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or suffer from a range of physical problems including headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being left alone.
A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your previous and current 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 have dealt with separation anxiety in the past.
Treatment for this disorder can include talking therapy and, in certain cases, medication. Your therapist can teach you and your child methods to manage their fears. They can help you and your child to learn how to deal with separations in a step by procedure. Medicines can help to relax the mind and relax the body, which can ease your child's anxiety.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from separation anxiety will experience extreme stress when they are away from their the home or close family members. Unlike normal fear and worry that people generally feel the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting longer than four weeks in children, and up to more than six months for adults. They can cause significant disruption to daily life and function at work and school. The condition can also interfere with a person's ability create romantic relationships and socialize.
A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to diagnose the disorder. The provider will want to determine when the symptoms began and what triggers them to be worse or better. Based on the age of the patient the mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that may have caused stress and any history of trauma.
The doctor will also decide whether there is another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms. It could be an illness such as cancer, or a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include family adversities such as mental illness in the family or substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.
Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, since there aren't any lab tests for the condition and it can share many symptoms with other fears. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced a traumatic experience or significant loss. There are studies that suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders as they age.
There are a variety of treatment options available for people with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can help overcome the phobia. Parents with this disorder can benefit from strategies and training to strengthen their relationship with their child.
Treatment
Although many children experience a period that makes them clingy and fearful of strangers When this fear persists through elementary school and beyond and is accompanied by physical symptoms, and interferes with daily functioning it could be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it can affect up to 4% of children and has an average age of 7 years old.
Your child's doctor will conduct an exhaustive exam to rule out physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children it will likely be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.
Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is usually the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will assist your child to help them learn healthy ways of managing their emotions, building self-confidence and independence, and developing resilience. The therapist will instruct parents on how they can assist their child who is suffering from anxiety. Medication, including antidepressants like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.
The therapist will decide the best treatment plan for your child based on their individual needs. anxiety disorder best medication who suffer from extreme anxiety, for instance could benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually expose your child to situations that cause anxiety in small steps until they become comfortable.
Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they grow older, and their symptoms will decrease. However, some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals such as returning to college or going to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to develop co-occurring disorders such as depression, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.
Prevention
For many children who are anxious about separation, it is an inevitable part of the development process. For others, anxiety over separation is a serious problem that can affect their lives and prevents them from participating in the activities they enjoy. If your child's fears are disrupting their routine, talk to a mental health professional.
Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children suffer from extreme distress when separated from parents or other figures of attachment. They are always worried about being snatched away or lost, or that an accident will cause them to lose the people closest to themselves. They may struggle to fall to sleep at night, or refusing to go to play dates, school or camp without their parents.
Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at least four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to get a full picture of the situation. They might ask questions about anxiety disorders or changes in life, such as family history or life events that might trigger the separation anxiety.
Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger usually express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their attachment figures, such as a fear that their parents could be injured in a car crash or be attacked by an intruder. However, older children with separation anxiety often deny they are anxious about leaving their home.
Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and helping them learn to recognize and manage their anxieties. In some instances there is a mix of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is used.
It is crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children need to be taught that their pleas for parents to stay home are not valid and they'll only get better if they're given clear, precise boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.