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Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect adolescents and children who worry excessively when they are separated from their caregivers, parents, or other important people. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, for example, getting lost or injured.

Children with separation anxiety disorder can be treated with therapy and medication. Therapy involves teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety in the event of being separated from family and primary caregivers. People suffering from this disorder are worried that their family member could suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could include getting lost or falling ill. They might also be scared of other scenarios that could cause separation from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a an accident in a vehicle.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It's not known what causes separation anxiety in adults however, it could be caused by significant life changes or previous mental health disorders, like depression or PTSD. People with this condition can feel overly dependent on their spouses or children and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others may see them as being too demanding and clingy.

Symptoms of this condition include a high level of distress when a person is separated from their family members, severe anxiety when they are away from their home or at work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve physical separation from their families, for example, going to school. disorders anxiety suffering from this condition could suffer physical issues 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 or your child's previous and current 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 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 to understand how to handle separations through a step by steps. The use of medication can help calm the mind and relax the body, which can ease the anxiety of your child.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder is likely to experience extreme anxiety when separated from the home or close family members. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that many people suffer from the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting for more than four weeks for children and more than six months for adults. They cause major disruption to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. It can also affect a person's socialization and ability to form romantic relationships.

To determine the cause of this disorder A mental health professional will interview the patient and observe their behavior. The provider will ask when symptoms began and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. Depending on the individual's age, a mental health professional might also inquire about recent events that may be causing stress, as well as any history of trauma.

The doctor will also attempt to determine whether the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, such as cancer or a neurological issue such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other possible causes include family-related adversities that affect children such as mental illness, substance misuse child abuse, domestic violence and neglect, and experiences with trauma like natural disasters and war, sexual assault or the loss of loved ones.





The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, as there are no lab 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 a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders as they age.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in various ways. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their phobia through therapy, including cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents with this disorder can benefit from methods and education to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Many children go through a phase that makes them clingy and fearful of strangers, when this anxiety persists through the elementary years and beyond and is associated with physical symptoms, and affects daily functioning it could be an indication of separation anxiety disorder. 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.

Your child's doctor will conduct a thorough examination to rule out physical ailments that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are found the doctor who treats your child will refer them to an expert in mental health who has expertise in anxiety disorders. For children, this will most likely be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is typically the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will work with your child to help them develop healthy ways of managing their feelings, increasing self-confidence and independence, and building their resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how to assist their child and assist them cope with their anxiety. Treatment, such as antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

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

Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they grow older and their symptoms diminish. However, some adults could continue to have symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. This could make it difficult for them to keep relationships or pursue certain career goals, like returning to school or moving for work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like other anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of addiction disorders.

Prevention

For many children with separation anxiety, it's an inevitable part of the development process. For others, anxiety over separation can be a major issue that can affect their lives and prevents participation in activities they enjoy. If your child's anxiety is disrupting their daily routines consult an expert in mental health.

Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme stress when they are separated from their parents or other important family members. They are constantly worried about being kidnapped, or lost, or that an accident could result in the loss of those closest to them. They might also have trouble sleeping on their own at night, or they might refuse to go to camp, school or play dates with their parents.

Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child have lasted at least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child as well as the parents individually to gather the complete picture. They might also inquire about other anxiety disorders or family history, as well as life events that could have triggered or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety varies depending on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children typically express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their family members for example, the fear that their parents might be hurt in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is usually dismissed by them.

Behavioral therapy is a common treatment for children with separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children, and helping them understand and manage their anxiety. In some cases, a mixture of therapies, such as cognitive therapy, is used.

It's important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children need to be aware that their pleas to parents not to leave them are not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, unambiguous boundaries and assistance in conquering their fears.