Anxiety Disorder Separation: A Simple Definition

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder affects children and adolescents who worry excessively when they are separated from their parents, caregivers or other significant people. They might also be concerned that separation could have negative consequences, like getting hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy includes teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly with encouragement and support.

Symptoms

While some anxiety over being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people more anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this condition are afraid that something tragic will occur to their family member if they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They may also fear other situations that could keep them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or getting into a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not believed to be caused by any specific factor however it could be triggered by life changes, depression, or PTSD. People suffering from this disorder may feel overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and may lack boundaries. Others can view them as overly demanding and clingy.

The symptoms of this condition include extreme stress 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 traveling or engaging in other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, such as going back to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have difficulty sleeping or suffer from a range of physical ailments including headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being left alone.

To diagnose this disorder, a healthcare provider will ask about your or your child's past and present symptoms. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to determine how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder includes therapy for talk and, in certain cases medications. Your therapist will teach you and your child how to manage their fears. They can also help you approach situations that are feared in a step-by-step process that will help your child learn how to cope with separations and increase their confidence. The medicines can help calm the mind, relax the body and reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes a person to feel extreme distress if they are away from their home or family members. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that people generally experience, the symptoms of this disorder can be persistent, typically lasting longer than four weeks for children and up to six months in adults, and they cause major disruption to daily life and function at school and work. The condition can also hinder with the ability of a person to establish romantic relationships and socialize.

To diagnose this disorder A mental health professional will interview the patient and observe their behavior. The provider will ask when symptoms first started and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and trauma history in relation to the age of the person.

The provider will also try to determine whether the phobia is a result of another medical anxiety disorder condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, such as cancer or a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as mental illness of the parents or domestic violence, abuse of substances and child neglect and abuse.

Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult as there are no lab tests for the condition, and it may have a variety of symptoms with other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent for adults who have had an emotional trauma 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 anxiety and depression in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in various ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear through therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parent education and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout elementary school, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and interferes in everyday functioning. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children and has a median age of 7 years.

The doctor who treats your child will conduct an exhaustive exam to rule out physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders description disorders. It could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is usually the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to teach them healthy ways of managing their feelings, increasing confidence and independence, as well as building resilience. The therapist will also educate parents on how to support their child and help them deal with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated by medication, for example antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Depending on your child's specific needs, their therapist will determine which treatment options are most appropriate for their specific needs. Children with extreme anxiety, for instance could benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt for social anxiety disorder) as well as exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time in small steps until they feel at ease with them.

As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults could continue to have symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals like returning to college or going to work. Adults with separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders like depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.

The following is a list of preventatives.

For many kids, separation anxiety disorder symptoms in adults anxiety is an inevitable part of the development process. For some, separation anxiety is a serious problem that can affect their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they enjoy. Consult a mental health specialist if your child's fear affects their daily routine.

Children with separation anxiety disorder experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other significant relationships. They are constantly worried about being snatched away or lost, or that an accident might cause them to lose those closest to them. They might be having a difficult time sleeping on their own at night or refusing to go to camp, school, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors are not able to diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child last at minimum four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and parents in a separate interview to get an entire picture of the situation. They might ask questions about anxiety disorders or changes in life, such as family history or life events that could trigger the separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety varies depending on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might be worried that their parents could be involved in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. By contrast older children with separation anxiety usually deny that they have any anxiety about leaving home.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and manage their fears. In some cases there is a mix of therapies, including cognitive therapy, is used.

It's important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their pleas to parents not to let them go are not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, unambiguous boundaries and assistance in overcoming their fears.