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Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects children and adolescents who fret excessively when they are separated from their caregivers, parents or other significant people. 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 involves teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly, with reassurance and support.

Symptoms

Although some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal, separation anxiety disorder makes people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiving figures. People with this condition are worried that something bad will happen to their family member if they are separated, such as being lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other situations that could separate them from their loved ones including being abducted or having an accident in a vehicle.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It's unclear what causes adult separation anxiety however, it could be triggered by major life changes or previous mental health issues, like depression or PTSD. People with this condition may be overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others can view them as excessively clingy and demanding.

Symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family, severe distress when they are away from work or home and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can make people avoid traveling or other activities that require physical separation from family members, for example, going back to school. Children who suffer from this condition might experience physical problems such as stomach pains if they worry about being alone.

To determine the severity of this disorder, medical professionals will inquire about your your child's past and present symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to find out how you've dealt with separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in some instances, medication are used to treat this disorder. Your therapist can teach you and your child ways to deal with their fears. They can help you and your child to learn to manage separations in a step-by- steps. The medications can calm the mind and body, as well as ease your child's anxieties.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety is likely to experience extreme anxiety when apart from home or close attachment figures. iampsychiatry.com of separation anxiety disorder can be more severe than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last up to six months in adults and for up to four weeks in children. They can cause significant disruptions in the daily routine, school, and work. The condition can also interfere with a person's ability form romantic relationships and socialize.

To diagnose this disorder A mental health professional will interview the patient and observe their behavior. The doctor will inquire about when symptoms began and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. A mental health professional will inquire about recent events and the history of trauma in relation to the age of the person.

The provider will also determine if there is another medical condition that may cause similar symptoms. This could be an illness such as cancer, or a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include childhood family problems like mental illness in the family, substance abuse, domestic violence and neglect and abuse of children.

It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults, since there are no lab tests and the symptoms may be similar to the symptoms of other fears. Separation anxiety disorder is more common for adults who have had a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people diagnosed with separation disorder in childhood may be more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders as adults.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in a variety of ways. Therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can assist people to overcome the phobia. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout elementary school, is associated with physical symptoms and impedes daily functioning. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it can affect up to 4% of children with an average age of 7 years.

The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough exam to rule out any physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are found, your child's healthcare provider will refer them to a mental health professional who has expertise in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is typically the first treatment option for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will assist your child to help them learn healthy ways to manage their emotions, building confidence in themselves and their independence, and building their resilience. The therapist will also educate parents on how they can support their child and help them cope with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is typically treated by medication, for example antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

The therapist will determine the best treatment plan for your child based on their individual needs. Children with extreme anxiety, for instance might benefit from a combination cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time, in small steps, until they feel at ease with them.

As children grow older their symptoms tend to decrease. There are some adults who have symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals like returning to college or moving to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions, such as other anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

Prevention





For many kids, separation anxiety is a normal part of development. For others, separation anxiety can be a serious issue that interferes in their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they enjoy. If your child's fears are disrupting their routine consult a mental health professional.

Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other major relationships. They are constantly worried about being snatched away, missing or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of people who are close to them. They may have trouble falling asleep at night or refuse to go to school, play dates or camp without parents.

The signs of separation anxiety in children should last for at least four weeks before a doctor can determine the cause. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents in a separate session to gather the complete picture. They may inquire about other anxiety disorders or family history as well as changes in life that may have triggered or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation differs by the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For example, they may worry that their parents could be in a car crash or harmed by a burglar. By contrast older children with separation anxiety typically deny that they are anxious about leaving their home.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children with separation anxiety. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and manage their anxieties. In some instances, a mixture of therapies, including cognitive therapy, is used.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Children must be taught that their parents' pleas not to leave them are not valid. They will only be able to improve by receiving clear, definite boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.