Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents who suffer from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being separated from their caregivers, parents or other significant people in their lives. They might also be concerned that being separated could have negative consequences, such as getting hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medications can be used to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorders. Therapy involves teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People who suffer from this condition are worried that something tragic will occur to their family member if they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They might also be scared of other situations that could make them separated from their loved ones including being abducted or having a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not known to be caused by a specific cause however it could be triggered by changes in life such as depression, depression, or PTSD. The people who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or romantic partners and display a lack of boundaries. Others may see them as overly clingy and demanding.

The signs of this disorder include excessive distress when a person is separated from their family members, severe distress when they're away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or engaging in other activities that require physical separation from family members, for example, returning to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or experience a variety of physical problems, such as stomach pains or headaches, in the event of anxiety about being on their own.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your past and current symptoms or those of your child in order to determine if you suffer from 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 a few instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to cope with the fears. They can also guide you deal with situations that scare you by guiding you through the steps that can help your child understand how to cope with separations and build up their confidence. Medicines can help to relax the mind and relax the body, which can ease the anxiety of your child.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when apart from home or close attachment figures. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder can be more severe than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last for up to six months in adults and for up to four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions to daily life, school, and work. The condition can also hinder with a person's ability form romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to determine the cause of the disorder. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms started and what anxiety disorder feels like triggers them to worsen or improve. Depending on the person's age the mental health professional may also ask about recent events that could be causing stress, as well as any past trauma.

The doctor will also decide if there is another medical condition that could cause similar symptoms. This may be an illness such as cancer or an underlying neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family problems like parental mental illnesses or domestic violence, substance abuse and child neglect and abuse.

Diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, since there aren't any lab tests for the condition, and it may have a variety of symptoms with other fears. Anyone who develops separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically is a victim of an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Certain studies suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression in adulthood.

Several treatment options are available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. There are many treatment options available for people suffering from. People with separation anxiety disorder can overcome their phobia through therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. Parents with this disorder can benefit from methods and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

While many children go through a phase that makes them clingy and fearful of strangers, when this anxiety persists throughout elementary school and beyond and is manifested as 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 frequent anxiety disorder that is diagnosed in children with up to 4 percent of them with an age at onset of 7 years old.

Your child's doctor will perform a thorough examination to rule out physical ailments that could cause anxiety. If no physical issues are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. This could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is often the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to help them develop healthy ways of managing their emotions, boosting confidence in themselves and their independence, and building their resilience. The therapist will instruct parents on how they can help their child with anxiety. Treatment, such as antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

The therapist will determine the best treatment option for your child based on their individual needs. For example, children with severe 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 feel comfortable with them.

Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder improve as they age, and their symptoms will diminish. However, some adults may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. This can make it difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, like returning to school or relocating to work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions like other types of anxiety disorders such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many kids with separation anxiety, it's an inevitable part of the development process. For others, separation anxiety can be a serious issue that affects their lives and prevents them from participating in the activities they enjoy. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routines, talk to a mental health professional.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children experience severe distress when they are away from their parents or other attachment figures. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped, or lost or that an accident might result in the loss of those closest to them. They might also have trouble sleeping on their own at night or refusing to go to camp, school or play dates with their parents.

Doctors are not able to diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child have lasted at least four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents separately to obtain a full picture of the situation. They may also ask questions about other anxiety disorders or changes in life like family history or life events that could trigger the separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorders symptoms differs based on the child's age, and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children typically express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their attachment figures for example, the fear that their parents could be injured in a car crash or be attacked by a burglar. In contrast, older children with separation anxiety often deny they are anxious about leaving the house.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and helping them identify and manage their anxiety. In some cases it is necessary to combine therapies, including 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 pleas to parents to stay home are not valid and they'll only improve if provided with clear, definite boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.