Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects children and adolescents who worry excessively when they are separated from their caregivers, parents or other significant people. They may also worry that separation could have negative consequences, for example, being lost or hurt.

Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapy includes teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Signs and symptoms

Although some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people more anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiver figures. People with this condition are afraid that something terrible could occur to their family member when they are separated, like being lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other circumstances that could cause separation from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a an accident with a car.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It's unclear what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be caused by significant 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 romantic partners, and lack boundaries. Others can view them as excessively clingy and demanding.

This condition is marked by a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or working, and recurring dreams of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve the physical separation of their families, like going to school. Children who suffer from this condition might have physical issues, such as headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being left alone.

A healthcare provider will ask you about your current and past symptoms or those of your child to determine the cause of separation anxiety. They will inquire about your family, and other relationships, to see how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Treatment for this disorder consists of talking therapy and, in some cases medications. Your therapist can teach you and your child how to deal with their fears. They can also guide you deal with situations that scare you through a step-by-step method that can help your child understand how to deal with separations and increase their confidence. The medications can calm the mind and relax the body to help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense distress if they are away from their home or other close attachment figures. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that most people experience, the symptoms of this disorder can be persistent, typically lasting longer than four weeks in children and six months or longer in adults. They create major disruptions to daily life and function at school and work. It can also affect the person's social anxiety disorder treatment life and ability to develop romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to determine the cause of the disorder. The provider will want to determine when the symptoms began and what makes them more or less severe. Based on the age of the patient, a mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that might be causing stress, as well as any previous trauma history.

The provider will also determine whether there is another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms. This could be due to an illness like cancer or a neurological disorder like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other possible causes are childhood family adversities such as mental illness, addiction to drugs for generalized anxiety disorder child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, and experiences with trauma like natural disasters or sexual assault, war, or the loss of loved ones.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, because there aren't any laboratory tests for the condition, and it can share many symptoms with other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced an emotional trauma or a major loss. Some studies indicate that people who suffer from separation disorders in their early years may be more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders as adults.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. Therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can help overcome their fears. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from methods and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms, and affects daily activities. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service the disorder of separation anxiety is the most prevalent anxiety disorder diagnosed in kids, affecting up to 4% of them, with an onset age of 7 years old.

Your child's doctor will perform an exhaustive exam to rule out physical ailments that could cause anxiety. If no physical problems are found the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children who are ill, this could be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.

Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will help your child learn how to manage their emotions to increase self-confidence, confidence, independence, and build resilience. The therapist will also educate parents on ways to assist their child who is suffering from anxiety. Medication, including antidepressants like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is often prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

Based on the specific needs of your child's needs, the therapist will determine which treatment options are most appropriate for the child. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, for example might benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually over time by introducing them in small increments until they are at ease with them.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorders book disorder will improve as they grow older and their symptoms decrease. However, some adults may be suffering from separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or going to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions like other different types of anxiety disorders of anxiety disorders such as depression and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common in many children. But for others it can turn into a serious problem that interferes with their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they like. Speak to a mental healthcare professional if your child's anxiety affects their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children experience severe distress when they are away from their parents or other family members. They have persistent fears about being snatched away, missing or experiencing an accident that could cause the loss of those closest to them. They may be having a difficult time sleeping on their own at night or they may refuse to go to school, camp, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety disorders wikipedia until the signs of a child are present for at least four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and parents separately to get an entire picture of the situation. They might ask questions about anxiety disorders or changes in the life like family history and life events that could cause separation anxiety.

Treatment for Anxiety disorders what is it disorder separation differs by the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might be worried that their parents could be involved in a car accident or attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently dismissed by them.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to identify and manage their anxiety. In some cases the combination of therapies is used, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children experiencing anxiety over separation. Children need to be aware that their parents' pleas not to leave them are not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, unambiguous boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.