Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being away from their parents, caregivers or other significant people in their lives. They may also worry about a possible negative outcome of separation, for example, getting lost or being injured.

Children suffering from separation anxiety can get treatment through therapy and medication. Therapy focuses on teaching children to manage fearful situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety in relation to being separated from family and primary caregivers. People with this condition fear that their family member could be the victim of a tragic incident when they are separated. This could mean getting lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other scenarios that could separate them from their loved ones like being kidnapped or being involved in an accident.

The first signs of this anxiety disorder usually occurs in the earliest years of life, however adults can develop it at any time. It isn't known what causes adult separation generalized anxiety disorder dsm 5 however it could be triggered by significant life changes or previous mental health disorders, like depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel overly dependent on children or romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Others can view them as excessively demanding and clingy.

The signs of this disorder include excessive distress when a person is cut off from their family, significant distress when they're away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, like 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 diagnose this disorder, the healthcare professional will inquire about your or your child's past and current symptoms. They will ask you about your family, and other relationships to determine how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medication are utilized to treat this disorder. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the fears. They can assist you and your child understand how to handle separations through a step by steps. The medicines can help calm the mind, relax the body and help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes a person to feel extreme distress if they are away from their home or close family members. Unlike normal fear and worry that people generally suffer from, the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting more than four weeks in children, and up to up to six months for adults. They cause major disruption to the daily routine and functioning at school and work. The condition can also hinder with a person's ability create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose the disorder. The provider will ask when symptoms began and what causes them to worsen or improve. Depending on the person's age the mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that could have caused stress and any past trauma.

The provider will also determine whether there is another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms. It could be due to an illness like cancer, or an underlying neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other possible causes include family-related adversities that affect children, such as parental mental illness, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, as well as experiences with trauma such as natural catastrophes and sexual assault, war, or the loss of a loved one.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, because there aren't any laboratory tests for the condition and it may share a number of symptoms with other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more common for adults who have had an emotional trauma or a major loss. Some studies indicate that people diagnosed with separation disorder in childhood are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later on in their lives.

A variety of treatment options are available for people with separation anxiety disorder. There are many treatment options available for people suffering from. Therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication, such as selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can help people overcome their fear. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from methods and training to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess continues throughout elementary school, is associated with physical symptoms, and affects daily activities. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service that separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder that is diagnosed in children, affecting up to 4 percent of them with an onset age of around 7 years.

Your child's doctor will perform an exhaustive exam to rule out physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. This will likely be a psychologist or child psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is usually the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child learn healthy ways to manage their feelings to increase self-confidence, confidence, independence, and build resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how they can assist their child and assist them deal with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is typically treated by medication, for example antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child's needs, the therapy therapist will determine which options are most appropriate for their specific needs. For instance, children suffering from severe anxiety might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety over time in small steps until they are comfortable.

As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. However, some adults may continue to have symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as 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 such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many children, separation anxiety is a normal part of development. For others, anxiety over separation can be a major issue that can affect their lives and hinders their participation in activities they love. Talk to a mental health specialist if your child's fear affects their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children experience severe distress when separated from parents or other attachment figures. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped or lost or that an accident will cause them to lose those closest to them. They might have difficulty falling asleep at night or refusing to go to play dates, school or camp without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at minimum four weeks. The healthcare professional may interview both the child and parents in a separate session to get the full picture. They might ask questions about other anxiety disorders or life changes, such as family history and life events that could trigger the separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children younger than 5 years old tend to express their anxiety by expressing specific fears about harm to their loved ones for example, a fear that their parents could be injured in a car crash or be attacked by an intruder. In contrast older children with separation anxiety typically deny that they are worried about leaving their home.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children with separation anxiety. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their anxieties. In some cases it is necessary to combine therapies, such as cognitive therapy, is utilized.

It's crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children need to understand that their parents' pleas not to let them go are not valid. They will only improve by receiving clear, unambiguous boundaries and help in conquering their fears.