Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder affects children and adolescents who worry overly when they are away from their parents, caregivers or other significant people. They might also be worried about the possible negative effects of separation, like getting lost or being hurt.

Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorders. Therapy focuses on teaching children to deal with fearful situations slowly with encouragement and support.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People with this condition fear that their family member will suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could mean getting lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other circumstances that could cause separation from their loved ones, including being abducted or having a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It's not known what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be caused by major life changes or previous mental health issues, such as depression or PTSD. People with this condition can feel overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others can view them as excessively demanding and clingy.

The signs of this disorder include excessive distress when a person is cut off from their family, significant anxiety when they are away from home or work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, for example, returning to school. Children with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or experience a variety of physical issues, such as headaches or stomachaches, in the event of anxiety about being on their own.

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

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist can show you and your child ways to deal with their fears. They can also guide you approach situations that are feared through a step-by-step method that helps your child learn how to cope with separations and build their confidence. 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 causes people to experience extreme anxiety when they are away from their home or other close family members. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder can be more severe than normal anxiety and fear. They can last for up to six months for adults and for up to four weeks in children. They cause significant disruptions in the daily routine at school, work, and home. The condition can also cause problems with the ability of a person to create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to diagnose this disorder. The doctor will inquire about when symptoms first started and what causes them to worsen or improve. Depending on the individual's age an expert in mental health may also ask about any recent events that may have caused stress, as well as any past trauma.

The doctor will also attempt 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 condition, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes are family problems like parental mental illnesses, substance abuse, domestic violence and neglect and abuse of children.

The 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 fears. https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-disorders who suffers from separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically does so after experiencing an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Some studies suggest that people diagnosed with separation disorder in childhood are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

A variety of treatment options are available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from. Therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fears. Parents who suffer from this disorder can benefit from methods and education to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess is persistent 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 with a median age of 7 years old.

The doctor who treats your child will conduct a thorough examination to rule out physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. This could be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will work with your child to help them develop healthy ways of managing their feelings, increasing confidence in themselves and their independence, and building resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways to aid their child suffering from anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, such as antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child's requirements, their therapy therapist will determine which options are most appropriate for their specific needs. For example, children with extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that cause anxiety gradually over time in small steps until they are comfortable with them.

As children grow older their symptoms typically decrease. However, some adults may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder in their adult life. This can make it difficult for them to keep relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as going back to college or relocating to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.

The following is a list of preventatives.

For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is an inevitable part of the development process. But 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 enjoy. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routine, talk to a mental health professional.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children experience extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other attachment figures. They are constantly worried about being abducted, lost or having an accident that will cause the loss of loved ones to them. They may struggle to fall to sleep at night, or refusing to go to play dates, school, or camp without their parents.

A child's separation anxiety symptoms should last for at least four weeks before a doctor will diagnose the problem. The healthcare professional may interview both the child and parents separately to gather the complete picture. They may ask about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history as well as changes in life that may have caused or made separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation differs according to the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old tend to express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their family members like being worried that their parents might be hurt in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. By contrast older children who suffer from separation anxiety typically deny that they have any anxiety about leaving home.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children with separation anxiety. 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 need to understand that their parents' pleas not to leave them are not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, firm boundaries, and support in overcoming their fears.