Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect children and adolescents who fret frequently when they are not from their caregivers, parents or other significant people. They may also worry that separation could result in negative consequences, for example, being hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medications can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy focuses on teaching children to manage fearful situations gradually, with reassurance and support.

Signs and symptoms

While some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to separating from family members and primary caregiver figures. People with this condition fear that their family member could be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could include getting lost or falling ill. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones, such as being abducted or being involved in an accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It's not known what causes separation anxiety in adults however, it could be caused by significant life changes or prior mental health issues like 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 too clingy or demanding.

This condition is characterized by extreme distress when someone is separated from family, significant distress while away from home or at work, and recurrent dreams of 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 with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or suffer from a range of physical issues, such as stomach pains or headaches, when they are worried about being on their own.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your current and past symptoms, or the symptoms of your child to diagnose separation anxiety. They will also inquire about your family, and other relationships, to see how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist will teach you and your children how to deal with the anxiety. They can also help you deal with situations that scare you through a step-by-step method that helps your child learn how to handle separations and increase their confidence. The medicines can help calm the mind, relax the body and ease your child's anxieties.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder will feel extreme distress when separated from family members or close friends. In contrast to the normal anxiety and fear that many people experience the symptoms of this disorder can be persistent, typically lasting longer than four weeks in children and more than six months in adults, and they cause major disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. The condition can also cause problems with the ability of a person to form romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose the disorder. https://blogfreely.net/ploughcuban33/expert-advice-on-mixed-anxiety-and-depressive-disorder-from-an-older will inquire about when symptoms began and what triggers the symptoms to become worse or better. Depending on the individual's age, a mental health professional may also ask about recent events that might be causing stress, as well as any previous trauma history.

The provider will also try to determine if the phobia is a result of another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, for example an illness such as cancer or a neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes are family traumas like parental mental illnesses or domestic violence, substance abuse and neglect and abuse of children.

It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder among adults, since there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms could be similar to the symptoms of other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent for adults who have had a traumatic experience or significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who suffer from separation disorders in childhood may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later on in their lives.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear through therapy, including cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. Parents with this disorder can benefit from strategies and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

While many children experience a period when they become clingy and fearful of strangers, when this anxiety persists into elementary school and beyond, is associated with physical symptoms, and causes problems with daily activities, it may be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder can affect up to 4% of children, with an average age of 7 years.

Your child's healthcare professional will perform a thorough exam to identify any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are identified the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to a mental health professional with expertise in anxiety disorders. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is typically the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their feelings, increasing confidence and independence, as well as building resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how they can help their child and aid them cope with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is often treated by medication, for example antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Depending on your child's specific needs, the therapy therapist will determine which options are most appropriate for their specific needs. For instance, children who suffer from extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves gradually expose your child to situations that trigger anxiety in small steps until they are comfortable.

As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, like returning to college or moving for work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions, such as other types of anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders.

Prevention

For many children, separation anxiety is a normal part of development. For others, anxiety over separation is a serious problem that affects their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they love. If your child's anxiety is disrupting their daily routines consult an expert in mental health.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition in which children experience extreme distress when separated from parents or other attachment figures. They are constantly worried about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident could result in the loss of those closest to them. They may be having a difficult time sleeping on their own at night or refusing to go to camp, school or play dates without their parents.

A child's separation anxiety symptoms must last at least four weeks before a physician can diagnose the problem. The healthcare provider may interview both the child and parents separately to gather the complete picture. They may ask about other anxiety disorders or family history as well as life events that could have caused or made separation anxiety more severe.

Treatment for separation anxiety differs based on the child's age, and the severity of symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might worry that their parents are involved in a car accident or attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is often denied by them.

Children with separation anxiety are often treated with behavioral therapy. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and manage their anxieties. In some instances it is necessary to combine therapies, such as cognitive therapy, is utilized.

It's crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their parents' pleas not to leave them not valid. They will only improve when they are given clear, unambiguous boundaries and support in overcoming their fears.