Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects children and adolescents who fret frequently when they are not from their parents, caregivers, or other important people. They may also worry that separation could have negative consequences, for example, being hurt or lost.
Psychotherapy and medications can be used to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorders. Therapy involves teaching the child to approach feared situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.
Symptoms
Although some anxiety about being away 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 suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member will be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could include getting lost or becoming sick. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones like being kidnapped or getting into a car accident.
This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It's not known what causes adult separation anxiety however it could be triggered by major life changes or previous mental health disorders, such as depression or PTSD. People suffering from this disorder may feel a lot dependent on their children or romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Some may see them as being overly demanding or clingy.
The symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when a person is separated from their family, severe anxiety when they are away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can make people avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, such as returning to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have trouble sleeping or may experience a variety of physical ailments including headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being left alone.
To determine the severity of this disorder, medical professionals will inquire about your or your child's past and current symptoms. They will inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.
Treatment for this disorder can include talk therapy and, in some cases medication. Your therapist can show you and your child methods to cope with their fears. They can also assist you to approach feared situations by guiding you through the steps that will help your child learn how to cope with separations and build up their confidence. The medicines can help calm the mind, relax the body and reduce your child's anxiety.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from separation anxiety will experience extreme stress when separated from family members or close friends. The symptoms of separation anxiety are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last up to six months in adults and four weeks in children. They cause major disruptions in daily life at school, work, and home. It can also affect the person's social life and ability to develop romantic relationships.
A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose the disorder. The healthcare provider will want be aware of the time when symptoms began and what triggers them to be more or less severe. Depending on the person's age, a mental health professional will also inquire about any recent events that could have caused stress, as well as any previous trauma history.
The doctor will also attempt to determine if the phobia is due to another medical condition that could cause similar symptoms, like an illness, like cancer or a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as mental illness in the family or domestic violence, abuse of substances and child neglect and abuse.
Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult because there aren't any laboratory tests for the condition, and it may have a variety of symptoms with other anxiety disorders. A person who develops separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically is a victim of a traumatic event or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who suffer from separation disorders in their early years may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders as adults.
A variety of treatment options are available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. There are many treatment options available for people suffering from. Treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fear. Parents with this disorder can benefit from methods and education to improve their relationship with their child.
Treatment
Many children go through a stage where they are terrified of strangers and clingy, when this anxiety persists into elementary school and beyond, is associated with physical symptoms, and causes problems with daily activities it could be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service that separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder seen in children with up to 4 percent of them with a onset age of 7 years old.
The doctor who treats your child will conduct an exhaustive exam to rule out physical problems that could cause anxiety. If no physical issues are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is typically the first option of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will assist your child to learn healthy ways to manage their emotions to increase self-confidence, confidence, independence, and build resilience. disorders anxiety will instruct parents on ways they can aid their child suffering from anxiety. Treatment, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are typically prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.
The therapist will determine the best treatment plan for your child based on their individual needs. Children with severe anxiety, for example, may benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually, in small steps, until they are comfortable with them.
Often, children with separation anxiety disorder improve as they grow older and their symptoms decrease. However, generalized anxiety disorder may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder in their adult life. This can make it difficult to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or relocating to work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions, such as other anxiety disorders depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders.
Prevention
For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is a normal part of development. For others, separation anxiety is a serious problem that affects their lives and hinders their participation in activities they love. Consult a mental health specialist if your child's fear is affecting their daily routine.
Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children suffer from extreme distress when separated from parents or other family members. They have persistent fears about being lost, kidnapped or having an accident that will result in the loss of those closest to them. They might also have a hard time falling asleep alone at night, or they might refuse to go to school, camp, or play dates without their parents.
Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child last at least four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents separately to obtain an entire picture of the situation. They may inquire about other anxiety disorders or family history as well as life changes that might have caused or made separation anxiety worse.
Treatment for separation anxiety differs based on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. panic anxiety disorder who are younger typically express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their family members like being worried that their parents could be injured in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. By contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety typically deny that they are worried about leaving home.
Children with separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their fears. In some cases, a combination of treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.
Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing separation anxiety. Children need to be aware that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, unambiguous boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.