Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being away from their parents, caregivers or other significant people in their lives. They might also be concerned that separation could result in negative consequences, such as being hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy includes teaching the child to approach feared situations gradually, with reassurance and support.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety in relation to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People with this condition fear that their loved ones will be the victim of a tragic event if they are separated. This could mean that they get lost or becoming sick. They might also be afraid of other situations that can separate them from their loved ones such as being abducted or getting into a car accident.

The onset of this anxiety disorder typically occurs in the early years of childhood, but adults can develop it at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not believed to be caused by any specific factor, but it may be caused by life changes, depression, or PTSD. People with this condition may be overly dependent on their spouses or children and display a lack of boundaries. Some may see them as being too demanding or clingy.

This condition is characterized by excessive distress when someone is separated from their family, significant stress while away from home or working, and recurring thoughts of separation. https://bullock-strauss-2.technetbloggers.de/ten-taboos-about-best-medication-for-anxiety-disorder-you-should-never-share-on-twitter can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that involve physical separation from their families, such as going to school. Children suffering from this condition could have physical issues, such as stomach pains when they worry about being alone.

A healthcare provider will ask you about your previous and current symptoms or those of your child to diagnose separation anxiety. They will also inquire about your family, and other relationships, to determine how you've dealt with separation anxiety before.

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medication are used to treat this disorder. Your therapist can teach you and your child how to cope with their fears. They can assist you and your child learn to manage separations in a step by procedure. The use of medication can help calm the mind and relax the body which can help ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder can cause individuals to feel intense distress if they are away from their home or relatives. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that people generally feel these symptoms disorder are persistent, often lasting more than four weeks in children, and up to more than six months in adults, and they can cause significant disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. It can also impact the person's social life and ability to develop romantic relationships.

To determine the cause of this disorder A mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms began and what causes them to worsen or improve. Depending on the person's age, a mental health professional will also inquire about recent events that might be causing stress, as well as any previous trauma history.

The doctor will also attempt to determine whether the fear is the result of a different medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, like cancer or a neurological disorder, such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other possible causes are childhood family adversities, such as parental mental illness, addiction to drugs child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, as well as exposure to traumatic events such as natural catastrophes or sexual assault, war, or the loss of a loved one.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult since there aren't any lab tests for the condition, and it may share a number of symptoms with other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent in adults who have experienced an emotional trauma or a major loss. Some studies suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression as they age.

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

Treatment

While many children go through a stage when they become clingy and fearful of strangers, when this anxiety persists into elementary school and beyond and is associated with physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning, it may be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service that separation anxiety disorder is the most prevalent anxiety disorder seen in children that affects up to 4 percent of them, with an age at onset of 7 years old.

Your child's doctor will perform an extensive exam to rule out physical issues that could cause anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety 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 help your child learn how to manage their emotions, increase self-confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how to help their child and aid them deal with their anxiety. Medication, including antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

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

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

Prevention

For many children who are anxious about separation, it is an inevitable part of the development process. For others, separation anxiety can be a serious issue that affects their lives and hinders their participation in the activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's fear is affecting their daily life.

Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other important attachment figures. They are constantly concerned about being snatched away or lost, or that an accident might result in the loss of those closest to themselves. They may struggle to fall asleep at night or refuse to go to play dates, school or camp without parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child last at minimum four weeks. The healthcare provider may interview both the child and the parents in a separate session to obtain the complete picture. They may ask about any other anxiety disorders or family history as well as changes in life that may have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorder differs based on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger tend to express their anxiety by expressing specific fears about harm to their family members like being worried that their parents might be hurt in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. However, older children with separation anxiety usually deny that they have any anxiety about leaving home.

Children with separation anxiety are often treated with behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children, and helping them understand and manage their anxiety. In some instances there is a mix of therapies, including cognitive therapy, is employed.

It is crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their pleas for parents not to leave are not valid, and they will only get better if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.