Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect adolescents and children who worry overly when they are away from their caregivers, parents or other significant people. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, for example, being lost or getting injured.

Children with separation anxiety disorder are treated through psychotherapy and medication. Therapy involves teaching the child to approach feared situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Signs and symptoms

While some anxiety over being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiving figures. People with this condition are afraid that something tragic will happen to their family member when they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They might also be scared of other scenarios that could make them separated from their loved ones, such as being kidnapped or having a an accident with a car.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be triggered by major life changes or previous mental health disorders, such as depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel a lot dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Some may view them as excessively demanding and clingy.

The signs of this disorder include extreme stress when a person is separated from their family, significant distress when they're away from work or home and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can make people avoid travel or other activities that require the physical separation of their families, for example, going to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or suffer from a range of physical issues, such as headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being left alone.

A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your past and current symptoms, or those of your child to determine the cause of separation anxiety. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to see how you have faced separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder consists of therapy for talk and, in some instances medication. Your therapist can show you and your child methods to deal with their fears. They can also assist you approach situations that are feared by guiding you through the steps that can help your child understand how to handle separations and build up their confidence. The medication can anxiety disorder cause nausea relax the mind, relax the body and reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when separated from family members or close friends. 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 for up to four weeks in children. They cause major disruptions to daily life, school, and work. The condition can also hinder with a person's ability to form romantic relationships and socialize.

To determine if this disorder is present, a mental health professional will interview the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will want determine when the symptoms began and what triggers them to be more or less severe. Based on the age of the patient an expert in mental health will also inquire about any recent events that could have caused stress, as well as any history of trauma.

The provider will also try to determine whether the fear is due to another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, for example an illness such as cancer or a neurological condition like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes are family problems like parental mental illnesses or domestic violence, abuse of substances 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 may have a variety of symptoms with other phobias. Anyone who develops a separation anxiety disorder in adulthood usually experiences it after an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Certain studies suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fear. People with this disorder often benefit from parental education and methods to improve 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 the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and impedes everyday functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder can affect up to 4% of children, with a median age of 7 years.

The healthcare provider for your child will perform a thorough exam to rule out any physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children, this will most likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is usually the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will work with your child to teach them healthy ways of managing their emotions, building confidence in themselves and their independence, and developing resilience. The therapist will instruct parents on ways to help their child with anxiety. Treatment, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

The therapist will decide which treatment option is Best General Anxiety Disorder Medication for your child based on their specific needs. For instance, children suffering from severe anxiety might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually by introducing them in small increments until they feel comfortable with them.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they get older, and their symptoms will decrease. However, some adults may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, such as going back to college or moving for work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like other anxiety disorders depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of addiction disorders.

The following is a list of preventions.

Separation anxiety is common among many children. However, for some, it can become an issue that is serious and can interfere with their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they like. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routine, talk to a mental health professional.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children experience extreme distress when they are away from their parents or other family members. They are always worried about being lost, kidnapped, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of loved ones to them. They may also have a hard time sleeping at night on their own or refusing to go to camps, school or play dates without their parents.

Doctors are not able to diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents separately to gather the complete picture. They might also inquire about other anxiety disorders or family history, as well as life changes that might have caused or made the separation anxiety more severe.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation differs according to the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might be worried that their parents could be involved in a car accident or harmed by burglars. However older children who suffer from separation anxiety often deny they are worried about leaving the house.

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

It's crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's anxiety about separation. Children must be taught that their parents' pleas not to leave them are not valid. They will only be able to improve by receiving clear, firm boundaries, and assistance in conquering their fears.