Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects children and adolescents who fret frequently when they are not from their parents, caregivers or other significant people. They may also worry that separation could result in negative consequences, like being hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. The child is taught to tackle feared situations slowly, with assurance.

Symptoms

While some anxiety over being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes 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 terrible could happen to their family member when they are separated, for example, being lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other situations that could cause separation from their loved ones such as being kidnapped or having a 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 such as depression, depression, or PTSD. The people who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or romantic partners and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others may view them as being overly demanding or clingy.

This condition is marked by a high functioning anxiety disorder level of distress when someone is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or working, and recurring dreams of separation. These symptoms can make people avoid traveling or other activities that involve the physical separation of their families, for example, going to school. Children with this condition may suffer physical issues such as stomach pains when they worry about being alone.

A healthcare professional will inquire dealing with anxiety disorder without medication 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 determine how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Treatment for this disorder can include talk therapy and, in some cases medications. Your therapist will teach you and your child ways to manage their fears. They can assist you and your child understand how to handle separations in a step by procedure. The medications can calm the mind and body, as well as reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety is likely to experience extreme anxiety when separated from the home or close family members. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last for up to six months in adults and four weeks in children. They cause major disruptions in daily life, school, and work. The condition can also cause problems with a person's ability establish romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and examine the patient's behavior to diagnose this disorder. The doctor will want to be aware of the time when symptoms began and what causes them to become more or less severe. Depending on the individual's age the mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that could be causing stress, as well as any previous trauma history.

The provider will also try to determine whether the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, like an illness, such as cancer or a neurological issue, such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other possible causes are family-related adversities that affect children, such as parental mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and exposure to traumatic events such as natural catastrophes and sexual assault, war, or the death of a loved one.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults because there are no lab tests and the symptoms may be similar to the symptoms of other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent among adults who have suffered an emotional trauma or a major loss. Some studies suggest that people who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in childhood are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. People with separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear with therapy, such a cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt for generalized anxiety disorder therapies anxiety disorder (just click for source)) or medication such as selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from techniques and training to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when children's fear of strangers and clinginess persists throughout elementary school, and is manifested by physical symptoms, and affects daily activities. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder affects up to 4% with an average age of 7 years.

Your child's doctor will perform an extensive exam to rule out physical ailments that could cause anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered the doctor who treats your child will refer them to a mental health professional with expertise in anxiety disorders. It could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

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

Depending on your child's specific needs, the therapist will determine which treatment options are appropriate for the child. For instance, children suffering from extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is when your child is exposed to situations that cause anxiety gradually over time in small steps until they feel comfortable with them.

As children get older, their symptoms usually decrease. There are some adults who suffer from symptoms of separation disorder in their adult life. This makes it difficult for them to keep relationships or pursue certain career goals, such as returning to school or relocating for work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety have a high rate of co-occurring disorders, including other types of anxiety disorders depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many kids with separation anxiety, it's an expected part of developing. But for others, it can become a serious problem that interferes with their lives and blocks them from participating in activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's fear is affecting their daily routine.

Children suffering from separation anxiety suffer extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other important relationships. They are constantly worried about being snatched away or lost or that an accident will cause them to lose those closest to themselves. They might also have trouble falling asleep alone at night or refusing to go to camp, school, or play dates without their parents.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last for at least 4 weeks before a doctor can diagnose the problem. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents separately to obtain an entire picture of the situation. They may ask about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety, family history, and changes in life that may have triggered or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorder is dependent on the age of the child, and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger usually express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their attachment figures for example, a fear that their parents could be injured in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently denied by them.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children, and helping them identify and manage their anxiety. In some instances the combination of treatments is employed, including medication and cognitive therapy.

It is crucial for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Kids need to know that their pleas to parents to stay home are not valid and they'll only get better if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a helping hand as they try to overcome their fears.