Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents who suffer from separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being apart from their parents, caregivers or other important people in their lives. They might also worry about the possible negative effects of separation, such as getting lost or hurt.
Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapy focuses on teaching children to manage fearful situations gradually with encouragement and support.
Signs and symptoms
Although some anxiety about being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this condition are worried that something tragic will occur to their family member when they are separated, for example, losing their way or falling ill. They might also be worried about other situations that could keep them from their loved ones such as being abducted or being involved in an accident.
This anxiety disorder can affect people at any age. Adult separation anxiety isn't thought to be caused by a specific cause however it could be triggered by changes in life, depression, or PTSD. People with this disorder may feel too dependent on their spouses or children and display a lack of boundaries. Some may see them as being overly demanding or clingy.
Symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when a person is separated from their family members, severe distress when they're away from their home or at work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can make people avoid travel or other activities that involve a physical separation from their families, like going to school. Children suffering from this condition could experience physical problems such as headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being alone.
A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your current and past symptoms, or those of your child to determine the cause of separation anxiety. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to find out how you have dealt with separation anxiety in the past.
Treatment for this disorder includes talking therapy and, in certain cases medications. Your therapist can teach you and your child ways to manage their fears. They can also guide you to approach feared situations in a step-by-step process that will help your child learn how to deal with separations and build up their confidence. The medicines can help calm the brain and relax the body to help ease your child's fears.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder will feel extreme distress when separated from home or close attachment figures. In contrast to the normal anxiety and fear that most people feel the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting longer than four weeks for children, and up to six months or longer in adults. They create major disruptions to daily activities and performance at work and school. It can also impact the social life of a person and their ability to establish romantic relationships.
A mental health professional will interview and examine the patient's behavior to determine the cause of the disorder. The doctor will inquire about when symptoms started and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. Based on the age of the patient the mental health professional may also ask about recent events that could have caused stress and any previous trauma history.
The doctor will also determine whether there is a medical condition that could cause similar symptoms. This could be an illness such as cancer, or an underlying neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family problems like mental illness in the family, substance abuse, domestic violence and child neglect and abuse.
It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there are no tests for it and the symptoms may be similar to other fears. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced trauma or a significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression in adulthood.
Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in various ways. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. People with this disorder often benefit from parental education and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.
Treatment
Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess continues throughout elementary school, and is manifested by physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it can affect up to 4% of children, with a median age of 7 years old.
Your child's healthcare provider will conduct a thorough exam to identify any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children who are ill, this could be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is usually the first option of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will work with your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their feelings, increasing confidence in themselves and their independence, and developing resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways they can assist their child who is suffering from anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, such as antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Based on the specific needs of your child's requirements, their therapy therapist will determine which options are most appropriate for them. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, for example might benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety over time in a series of small steps until they are comfortable.
As children age their symptoms typically decrease. There are some adults who have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adulthood. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or relocating to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder have a high rate of co-occurring conditions like other types of anxiety disorders depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of substance use disorders.
Prevention
Separation anxiety is common in many children. For others, anxiety over separation is a serious problem that interferes in their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they love. If your child's worries are disrupting their routine, talk to a mental health professional.
Children suffering from separation anxiety suffer extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other significant relationships. They are always worried about being snatched away or lost or that an accident might cause them to lose those closest to them. They might have difficulty falling to sleep at night, or refusing to go to school, play dates, or camp without their parents.
The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last at least four weeks before a doctor can determine the cause. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents separately to obtain an accurate picture of the situation. They may inquire about any other anxiety disorders or family history as well as changes in life that may have caused or made separation anxiety more severe.
Treatment for separation anxiety is determined depending on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their loved ones, such as the fear that their parents might be hurt in a car accident or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is usually ignored by them.
Children with separation anxiety are usually treated with behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and manage their fears. In some cases, a combination of treatments is employed, including medication and cognitive therapy.
Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Kids need to know that their requests for parents to stay home are not valid and they will only get better if they're given clear, precise boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.