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Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being separated from their caregivers, parents or other important people in their lives. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, for example, getting lost or injured.

Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorders. Therapy involves teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly, with reassurance and support.

Symptoms

While some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiver figures. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member could suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could include getting lost or becoming sick. They might also be afraid of other situations that can separate them from their loved ones like being kidnapped or being involved in a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. Adult separation anxiety is not thought to be caused by any specific factor, but it may be triggered by life changes or depression. It can also be caused by PTSD. People who suffer from this condition can feel overly dependent on their children or romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Some may see them as being too demanding or clingy.





This condition is characterized by extreme distress when someone is separated from family, significant distress when away from home or at work, and frequent thoughts of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that entail physical separation from their families, such as going to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or experience a variety of physical problems like headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being alone.

To diagnose this disorder medical professionals will inquire about your or your child's past and current symptoms. They will inquire about your family, and other relationships, to determine how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medication are used to treat this disorder. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the anxiety. They can also assist you deal with situations that scare you in a step-by-step process that can help your child understand how to cope with separations and increase their confidence. Medicines can help to relax the brain and relax the body, which can ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder can cause people to experience extreme distress if they are away from their home or other close attachment figures. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and fear. They can last up to six months for adults and for up to four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions in daily life as well as school and work. It can also affect 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 provider will want to determine when the symptoms began and what causes them to become worse or better. 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 determine whether there is another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms. This may be an illness such as cancer, or an underlying neurological disorder, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include family problems like parental mental illnesses, domestic violence, abuse of substances and neglect and abuse of children.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, as there are no lab tests for the condition, and it may share a number of symptoms with other anxiety disorders. Anyone who develops a separation anxiety disorder in adulthood usually is a victim of trauma or a significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood.

A variety of treatment options are available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants, can help overcome their fear. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parent education and techniques to improve their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Many children go through a stage that makes them anxious and clingy to strangers, when this anxiety persists through elementary school and beyond and is manifested as physical symptoms and interferes with daily functioning it could be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it affects up to 4% and has an average age of 7 years.

Your child's healthcare provider will conduct a thorough examination to determine if there are any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are found the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to an expert in mental health who has expertise in anxiety disorders. This could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is often the first course of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to teach them healthy ways of managing their emotions, boosting self-confidence and independence, and building resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how they can support their child and help them cope with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, such as antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

The therapist will determine the best treatment option for your child based on their individual needs. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, for example, may benefit from a combination cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves gradually expose your child to situations that trigger anxiety over time in a series of small steps until they feel comfortable.

As children grow older their symptoms typically decrease. There are some adults who suffer from symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or moving for work. Adults with separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders like depression, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

For many children, separation anxiety is an expected part of developing. For others, anxiety over separation is a serious problem that interferes in their lives and hinders their participation in activities they love. If panic anxiety disorder are disrupting their daily routines, talk to a mental health professional.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience severe distress when separated from parents or other figures of attachment. They are constantly concerned about being snatched away or lost, or that an accident might result in the loss of those closest to them. They might be having a difficult time sleeping at night on their own or refusing to go to camps, school or play dates with their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child last at least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents in a separate session to get the full picture. They may ask questions about anxiety disorders or life changes such as family history or life events that may trigger the separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorder is dependent on the child's age, and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might be worried that their parents are in a car crash or harmed by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently denied by them.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their anxieties. In some instances it is necessary to combine treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is used.

Adults must be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety over separation. Children need to understand that their pleas to parents not to leave them are not valid. They will only improve if they receive clear, unambiguous boundaries and support in overcoming their fears.