Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being away from their parents, caregivers or other important people in their lives. They may also worry that separation could result in negative consequences, like being lost or hurt.

Children suffering from separation anxiety can be treated with psychotherapy and medication. The child is taught to approach feared situations slowly, with confidence.

Symptoms

While some anxiety disorders causes about being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people more anxious than others when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this condition are afraid that something terrible could happen to their family member while they are separated, like being lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other circumstances that could cause separation from their loved ones, such as being kidnapped or having a a car 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 major life changes or by previous mental health issues, like depression or PTSD. The sufferers of this disorder might feel a lot dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and lack boundaries. Some may view them as excessively clingy and demanding.

Symptoms of this condition include excessive distress when a person is cut off from their family members, severe anxiety when they are away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid travel or other activities that require physical separation from family members, such as returning to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have trouble sleeping or may experience a variety of physical problems including stomach pains or headaches, when they are worried about being left alone.

To determine the severity of this disorder, the healthcare professional will inquire about your or your child's past and present symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships, to see how you've dealt with separation anxiety before.

Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medication are utilized to treat this condition. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the anxiety. They can help you and your child learn how to deal with separations in a step by procedure. The medications can calm the brain, relax the body and reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will experience extreme stress when apart from the home or close family members. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder can be more severe than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last for up to six months for adults and up to four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions to 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 healthcare provider will ask when symptoms started and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and history of trauma, depending on the age of the patient.

The provider will also determine whether there is a medical anxiety disorder condition that could cause similar symptoms. This could 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 misuse, child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, and exposure to traumatic events, such as natural catastrophes or sexual assault, war or the loss of a loved one.

It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults, as there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of other fears. Someone who suffers from separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically is a victim of a traumatic event or significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who suffer from separation disorders in childhood may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders as adults.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. People with separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear with therapy, like a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People with this disorder often benefit from parental education and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess persists throughout the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and impedes everyday functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it affects up to 4% with an average age of 7 years old.

Your child's doctor will perform a thorough examination to rule out physical ailments that could cause anxiety. If no physical problems are found the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has expertise in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is usually the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will work with your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their emotions, building self-confidence and independence, and developing resilience. The therapist will also train parents on how to support their child and help them with their anxiety disorders phobia. Separation anxiety disorder is often treated by medication, for example antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child's requirements, their therapist will determine which treatment options are best for their specific needs. For instance, children suffering from severe anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually exposing your child to the situations that trigger anxiety in small steps until they become comfortable.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they age, and their symptoms will decrease. However, some adults could still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals such as returning to college or going to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to have co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias, or post-traumatic disorder.

The following is a list with preventions.

For many kids, separation anxiety is a normal part of development. For others, anxiety over separation is a serious problem that affects their lives and prevents participation in activities they love. If your child's worries are disrupting their routine, talk to an expert in mental health.

Separation social anxiety disorder causes (Telegra.ph) disorder is a condition in which children experience severe distress when they are away from their parents or other family members. They have persistent fears about being snatched away, missing, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of loved ones to them. They might have difficulty falling asleep at night or refuse to go to school, play dates or camp without their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at minimum four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents separately to obtain an accurate picture of the situation. They may also ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in life, such as family history and life events that may cause separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorder varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For instance they might worry that their parents could be in a car crash or attacked by burglars. However older children with separation anxiety usually deny that they have any anxiety about leaving the house.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children, and helping them identify and manage their anxiety. In some instances there is a mix of therapies, including cognitive therapy, is utilized.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety over separation. Children must be taught that their requests for parents to not leave aren't valid, and they'll only improve if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.