Robbmoses0241

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being away from their caregivers, parents or other significant people in their lives. They may also worry that separation could have negative consequences, such as being hurt or lost.





Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. The child is taught to tackle difficult situations slowly, with confidence.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People suffering from this disorder 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 falling ill. They may also fear other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones like being kidnapped or being involved in an accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety however it could be caused by significant life changes or previous mental health disorders, such as depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or their romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Others can view them as being too demanding and clingy.

Symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when a person is cut off from their family members, severe distress when they're away from their home or at work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can make people avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, like going back to school. Children with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or may experience a variety of physical issues including headaches or stomach pains in the event of anxiety about being alone.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your current and past symptoms, or those of your child in order to determine if you suffer from separation anxiety. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to find out how you've overcome separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder consists of therapy for talk and, in certain cases medication. Your therapist will teach you and your children how to deal with the fears. They can assist you and your child to learn how to deal with separations in a step by step process. The use of medication can help calm the mind and relax the body, which can ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will feel extreme distress when they are away from their family members or close friends. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last up to six months in adults and for up to four weeks in children. They cause significant disruptions in the daily routine at school, work, and home. It can also affect the person's social life and ability to form romantic relationships.

To determine the cause of this disorder, a mental health professional will interview the patient and observe their behavior. The doctor will want to know when the symptoms started and what causes them to become worse or better. Depending on the individual's age the mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that could have caused stress and any past trauma.

The doctor will also decide if there is another medical condition that could cause similar symptoms. This may be a condition such as cancer, or an underlying neurological disorder, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other possible causes include family-related adversities that affect children like parental mental illness, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, as well as exposure to traumatizing events such as natural catastrophes, sexual assault, war, or the loss of loved ones.

It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there are no lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to other anxiety disorders. A person who develops separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically is a victim of trauma or a significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorder s in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their phobia through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or medications like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from strategies and training to improve their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess is persistent throughout elementary school, is accompanied with physical symptoms and impedes daily functioning. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service, separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder that is diagnosed in children with up to 4 percent of them, with an onset age of around 7 years.

Your child's healthcare provider will conduct a thorough examination to rule out any physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. It could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is typically the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child learn healthy ways to manage their emotions to increase self-confidence, confidence and independence, and build resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how to assist their child and assist them deal with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is typically treated with medication, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

disorders anxiety will determine the best treatment plan for your child based on their specific needs. Children with severe anxiety, like, may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually, in small steps, until they are at ease with them.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder improve as they get older and their symptoms decrease. Some adults may still have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adult life. It can be difficult for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals like returning to school or moving to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high rate of co-occurring conditions, such as other types of anxiety disorders depression and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of addiction disorders.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. For others, anxiety over separation can be a major issue that interferes in their lives and hinders their participation in activities they love. If your child's fears are disrupting their daily routines, talk to an expert in mental health.

Children suffering from separation anxiety experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other important attachment figures. They are always worried about being snatched away, missing or experiencing an accident that could cause 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.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at minimum four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and parents in a separate session to gather the complete picture. They may ask about any other anxiety disorders, family history, and changes in life that may have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies according to the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their attachment figures like the fear that their parents could be injured in a car accident or be attacked by burglars. In contrast, older children with separation anxiety usually deny that they have any anxiety about leaving the house.

Children who have anxiety about separation are usually treated with behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their fears. In some instances it is necessary to combine treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety about separation. Children need to be aware that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They can only grow if they receive clear, definite boundaries and assistance in overcoming their fears.