Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being apart from their caregivers, parents or other significant people in their lives. They may also worry that being separated could have negative consequences, like getting hurt or lost.
Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorder. The child is taught to approach the fearful situations slowly, and with assurance.
Symptoms
Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family and primary caregivers. People suffering from this condition are afraid that something bad will happen to their family member when they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones such as being abducted or getting into a car accident.
The first signs of this anxiety disorder usually occurs in childhood, though adults can develop it at any time. It's unclear what causes separation anxiety in adults, but it can be caused by major life changes or previous mental health issues, such as depression or PTSD. The people who suffer from this condition can feel overly dependent on their children or romantic partners and display a lack of boundaries. Others can view them as being too demanding and clingy.
This condition is characterized by excessive distress when someone is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress when away from home or at work, and frequent dreams involving separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve the physical separation of their families, such as going to school. Children suffering from this condition could have physical issues, such as headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being on their own.
A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your current and past symptoms or those of your child in order to determine the cause of separation anxiety. They will ask you about your family, and other relationships, to determine how you've dealt with separation anxiety before.
Treatment for this disorder can include talking therapy and, in certain cases medication. Your therapist can show you and your child methods to cope with their fears. They can help you and your child to learn how to deal with separations in a step by steps. The use of medication can help calm the mind and relax the body, which can help ease your child's anxiety.
Diagnosis
A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder will feel extreme distress when they are away from their the home or close family members. In contrast to the normal anxiety and fear that many people suffer from the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting more than four weeks in children, and up to up to six months for adults. They can cause significant disruption to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. The condition can also cause problems with a person's ability create romantic relationships and socialize.
To determine if this disorder is present A mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe their behavior. The healthcare provider will want know when the symptoms started and what causes them to become more or less severe. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and the history of trauma in relation to the age of the person.
The doctor will also attempt to determine whether the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, such as an illness such as cancer or a neurological issue, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other possible causes include childhood family adversities like parental mental illness, addiction to drugs or child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, as well as exposure to traumatic events such as natural catastrophes and war, sexual assault or the loss of a loved one.
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 phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent among adults who have suffered trauma or a significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression as they age.
Several treatment options are available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. There are many treatment options available for people suffering from. Therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications, such as selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can help people overcome their fear. 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 is diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout elementary school, and is manifested by physical symptoms and interferes in daily functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children, with an average age of 7 years.
The doctor who treats your child will conduct an extensive exam to rule out physical issues that could cause anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. It could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will work with your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their emotions, boosting confidence in themselves and their independence, and building resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways to aid their child suffering from anxiety. Treatment, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are typically prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.
The therapist will decide the best treatment plan for your child based on their specific needs. For example, children with extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually over time, in small steps, until they feel comfortable with them.
As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults may have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adulthood. This can make it difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or relocating to work. Adults with separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders such as depression, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.
Prevention
For many kids, separation anxiety is an expected part of developing. For some, separation anxiety is a serious problem that affects their lives and hinders their participation in activities they love. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routines, talk to an expert in mental health.
Children suffering from separation anxiety suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other important attachment figures. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident could cause them to lose the people closest to them. They may also have trouble sleeping on their own at night 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 have lasted at least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child as well as the parents individually to gather the complete picture. They might also inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history as well as life changes that might have caused or made separation anxiety worse.
Treatment for separation anxiety is determined depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their family members, such as the fear that their parents will get in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. By contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety often deny they have any anxiety about leaving their home.
Children who suffer from separation anxiety are usually treated with behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to recognize and control their anxiety. In some cases, a mixture of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is employed.
natural remedies for anxiety disorder should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing separation anxiety. Kids need to know that their pleas for parents to stay home are not valid and they will only improve if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.