Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder affects children and adolescents who fret overly when they are away from their caregivers, parents, or other important people. They might also be worried about a possible negative outcome of separation, such as being lost or getting hurt.

Children with separation anxiety disorders can be treated with psychotherapy and medications. The child is taught to handle the fearful situations slowly, and with confidence.

Symptoms

Although some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal, separation anxiety disorder makes people more anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiving figures. People with this condition fear that their family member could suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could include getting lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other situations that can separate them from their loved ones such as being abducted or being involved in a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It isn't known what causes separation anxiety in adults however it could be caused by significant life changes or previous mental health issues, like depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and may lack boundaries. Some may view them as excessively clingy and demanding.

This condition is characterized by excessive anxiety when a person is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or at work, and recurrent dreams involving separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that entail the physical separation of their families, like going to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or may experience a variety of physical problems like headaches or stomachaches, when they are worried about being on their own.

A healthcare provider will ask 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 been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Talk therapy and, in some instances, medication are used to treat this condition. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to cope with the fear. They can help you and your child to understand how to handle separations in a step by steps. The medications can calm the brain and body, as well as reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder will experience extreme stress when separated from home or close attachment figures. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that people generally suffer from, the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting longer than four weeks for children, and up to more than six months in adults. They create major disruptions to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. It can also impact a person's socialization and ability to form romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and examine the patient's behavior to diagnose the disorder. 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 trauma history, depending on the age of the patient.

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

It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults because there are no lab tests and the symptoms could be similar to other anxiety disorders. Someone who suffers from separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically does so after experiencing a traumatic event or significant loss. There are studies that suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in their childhood are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in various ways. Therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants, can help overcome the phobia. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess persists throughout the elementary school years, and is manifested by physical symptoms, and affects daily activities. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service that separation anxiety disorder is the most frequent anxiety disorder that is diagnosed in children that affects up to 4% of them, with an age at onset of 7 years old.

Your child's healthcare provider will conduct a thorough exam to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical problems are found the doctor who treats your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has expertise in anxiety disorders. For children who are ill, this could be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is typically 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 instruct parents on how they can assist their child who is suffering from anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, including antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child's needs, their therapist will determine which treatment options are best for the child. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, like could benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing your child to the situations that trigger anxiety over time in small steps until they become comfortable.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they get older and their symptoms decrease. There are some adults who have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adult life. This could make it difficult for them to keep relationships or to pursue certain career goals, like returning to college or moving for work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high rate of co-occurring conditions, such as other types of anxiety disorders depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of substance use disorders.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common in many children. For others it can be an issue that is serious and can interfere with their lives and blocks them from taking part in activities they like. Consult a mental health professional if your child's fear affects their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience extreme distress when they are away from their parents or other attachment figures. They are constantly worried about being lost, kidnapped, or having an accident that will lead to the loss of loved ones to them. They may have trouble falling asleep at night or refusing to go to play dates, school, or camp without their parents.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last for at least 4 weeks before a physician can determine the cause. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to obtain an accurate picture of the situation. They might ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in the life, such as family history and life events that could have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety differs based on the age of the child, and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old usually express their anxiety by expressing specific fears about harm to their family members, such as being worried that their parents could be injured in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is often dismissed by them.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and manage their fears. In https://zenwriting.net/childnumber5/how-to-create-an-awesome-instagram-video-about-anxiety-anxiety-disorders of treatments is employed, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children experiencing separation anxiety. Children need to be aware that their pleas to parents not to leave them are not valid. They can only grow by receiving clear, firm boundaries, and assistance in overcoming their fears.