Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect adolescents and children who worry overly when they are away from their caregivers, parents or other important people. They might also be worried about the possible negative effects of separation, such as getting lost or hurt.

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

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder quitting smoking disorder is more intense than normal anxiety in relation to being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People who suffer from this condition are worried that something tragic will happen to their family member when they are separated, for example, being lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other circumstances that could separate them from their loved one, 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 a specific cause, but it may be triggered by changes in life such as depression, depression, or PTSD. People with this condition may feel a lot dependent on children or their romantic partners, and may lack boundaries. Others may perceive them as being overly demanding or clingy.

This condition is marked by a high level of distress when one is cut off from their family, a significant amount of distress while away from home or at work, and recurrent thoughts of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that entail a physical separation from their families, for example, going to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or suffer from a range of physical problems, such as headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being on their own.

To diagnose this disorder, a healthcare provider will ask about your your child's previous and current symptoms. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to see how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist can teach you and your child how to manage their fears. They can anxiety disorders go away also assist you approach situations that are feared through a step-by-step method that can help your child understand how to cope with separations and build their confidence. The use of medication can help calm the brain and relax the body, which can help ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense anxiety when they are away from their home or close attachment figures. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that people generally suffer from, the symptoms of this disorder are persistent, often lasting longer than four weeks in children, and up to up to six months for adults. They cause major disruption to daily life and function at work and school. The condition can also hinder with the ability of a person to form romantic relationships and socialize.

To determine the cause of this disorder, a mental health professional will talk to the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The provider will ask when symptoms began and what triggers the symptoms to become worse or better. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and history of trauma in relation to the age of the patient.

The doctor will also attempt to determine if the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that could cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, like cancer or a neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family problems like mental illness in the family, substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation social anxiety disorder treatment disorder in adults because there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms could be similar to other phobias. A person who develops separation anxiety disorder in adulthood usually is a victim of a traumatic event or significant loss. There are studies that suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to be suffering from anxiety and depression in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as well as medication, such as selective serotonin receptor inhibitors and antidepressants, can help overcome the phobia. Parents with this disorder can benefit from strategies and training to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder may be diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess continues throughout elementary school, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and interferes in daily functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children, with an average age of 7 years old.

The doctor who treats your child will conduct an exhaustive exam to rule out physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered the doctor who treats your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has experience in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

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

Depending on your child's specific requirements, their counselor will determine what treatment options are best medicine for anxiety disorder for them. Children with severe anxiety, for example, may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This means gradually expose your child to situations that trigger anxiety in small steps until they are comfortable.

Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they grow older, and their symptoms will diminish. However, some adults may be suffering from separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. This can make it difficult for them to maintain relationships or achieve certain career goals, like going back to college or moving for work. Adults who suffer from separation anxiety are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions, such as other types of anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders.

Prevention

For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is an inevitable part of the development process. For others it can turn into an issue that is serious and can interfere with their lives and prevents them from taking part in activities they like. If your child's anxiety is disrupting their daily routine consult a mental health professional.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children suffer from extreme distress when they are away from their parents or other family members. They are always worried about being lost, kidnapped or experiencing an accident that could lead to the loss of loved ones to them. They may have trouble falling to sleep at night, or refusing to go to school, play dates or camp without parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child have lasted at minimum four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents in a separate interview to get a full picture of the situation. They might ask questions about other anxiety disorders or changes in the life, such as family history and life events that might have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies according to the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger tend to express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their family members like being worried that their parents might be hurt in a car crash or be attacked by a burglar. In contrast, older children with separation anxiety often deny they are worried about leaving the house.

Children who have anxiety about separation are usually treated with behavioral therapy. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their fears. In some instances, a mixture of therapies, including cognitive therapy, is utilized.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children who are experiencing anxiety over separation. Children need to be taught that their requests for parents to not leave are not valid, and they will only improve if given clear, precise boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.