Watch Out: What Anxiety Disorder Separation Is Taking Over And What We Can Do About It

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder Separation anxiety disorders affect adolescents and children who worry frequently when they are not from their caregivers, parents or other significant people. They might also be worried about a possible negative outcome of separation, for example, getting lost or being injured. Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorders. Therapy includes teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually with encouragement and support. Symptoms While some anxiety over 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 caregiver figures. People with this disorder are concerned that something bad will occur to their family member while they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones, such as being abducted or getting into a car accident. This anxiety disorder can affect people at any age. It isn't known what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be triggered by major life changes or previous mental health disorders, like depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this condition may be overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners and display a lack of boundaries. Others may view them as being too clingy or demanding. The symptoms of this condition include extreme stress when a person is cut off from their family, significant distress when they are away from work or home and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or engaging in other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, like going back to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have difficulty sleeping or experience a variety of physical ailments, such as headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being alone. A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your current and past symptoms or the symptoms of your child to determine the cause of separation anxiety. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to find out how you have faced separation anxiety in the past. Talk therapy and, in some instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist can show you and your child how to cope with their fears. They can help you and your child learn to manage separations in a step by procedure. 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 can cause individuals to feel intense distress if they are away from their home or other close attachment figures. Unlike normal fear and worry that most people experience the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting more than four weeks for children and more than six months in adults, and they cause major disruption to daily activities and performance at school and work. It can also affect the person's social life and ability to form romantic relationships. To diagnose this disorder A mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will want determine when the symptoms began and what triggers them to be worse or better. Depending on the individual's age the mental health professional will also inquire about any recent events that may have caused stress, as well as any history of trauma. The doctor will also determine if there is another medical condition that could cause similar symptoms. It could be an illness such as cancer, or an underlying neurological disorder, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include family traumas like mental illness in the family and substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder among adults because there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to other anxiety disorders. Someone who suffers from separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically is a victim of a traumatic event or significant loss. Some studies indicate that people diagnosed with separation disorder in their early years may be more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders later in life. Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Individuals suffering from separation anxiety can overcome their fear through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents who suffer from this disorder can benefit from strategies and education to strengthen their relationship with their child. Treatment Many children go through a stage that makes them anxious and clingy to strangers, when this anxiety persists through the elementary years and beyond and is manifested as physical symptoms and affects daily functioning, it may be an indication of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder can affect up to 4% of children, with a median age of 7 years. The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough examination to identify any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical ailments are discovered the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children, this will most likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist. Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is usually the first option of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child discover healthy ways to manage their emotions to increase self-confidence, confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how to support their child and help them with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is often treated with medication, such as antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Depending on your child's specific requirements, their therapy therapist will determine which options are appropriate for their specific needs. For instance, children who suffer from severe anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. generalized anxiety disorder involves exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time in small steps until they feel comfortable with them. Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they age and their symptoms decrease. However, some adults may be suffering from separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals such as returning to college or going to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions like other anxiety disorders, depression and phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders. Prevention For many kids, separation anxiety is an expected part of developing. But for others, it can become an issue that is serious and can interfere with their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they enjoy. Talk to panic anxiety disorder if your child's fear is affecting their daily life. Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience severe distress when separated from parents or other family members. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped or lost or that an accident will cause them to lose those closest to themselves. They may struggle to fall to sleep at night, or refusing to go to school, play dates, or camp without their parents. Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child have lasted at least four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and parents in a separate interview to get an entire picture of the situation. They might also inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history, as well as life changes that might have caused or made separation anxiety more severe. Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies by the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example, they may worry that their parents could be 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 suffering from separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to recognize and control their anxiety. In some instances, a combination of treatments is employed, including cognitive therapy and medication. It's crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Kids need to know that their pleas for parents to not leave are not valid, and they will only improve if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a helping hand as they try to overcome their fears.