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Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder





Children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder worry excessively about being apart from their parents, caregivers or other significant people in their lives. They may also worry that being separated could have negative consequences, for example, being lost or hurt.

Children with separation anxiety disorder can be treated with psychotherapy and medications. The child is taught to tackle the fearful situations slowly, and with assurance.

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 fear that their family member could be the victim of a tragic incident when they are separated. This could mean that they get lost or becoming sick. They might also be afraid of other situations 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, but it can be triggered by significant life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. The people who suffer from this condition may be overly dependent on their spouses or children and exhibit poor boundaries. Others may view them as being overly demanding or clingy.

This condition is marked by a high level of distress when someone is separated from their family, a significant amount of distress when away from home or at work, and frequent dreams of separation. These symptoms can lead people to avoid travel or other activities that entail the physical separation of their families, for example, going to school. Children suffering from this condition could have physical issues, such as stomach pains when they are worried about being alone.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your previous and current symptoms or those of your child to diagnose separation anxiety. 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 condition. Your therapist can show you and your child ways to deal with their fears. They can assist you and your child to understand how to handle separations in a step by steps. The medications can calm the mind and body, as well as help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder causes a person to feel extreme stress when they are away from their home or attachment figures. Unlike normal fear and worry that people generally experience the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting longer than four weeks for children, and up to more than six months in adults. They cause major disruption to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. The condition can also hinder with the ability of a person to create romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to diagnose this disorder. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms first started and what triggers them to get worse or improve. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and trauma history, depending on the age of the person.

The doctor will also try to determine if the phobia is the result of a different medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, like an illness, such as cancer or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other possible causes are familial adversities in childhood like parental mental illness, substance abuse domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, as well as experiences with trauma like natural disasters and war, sexual assault or the death of loved ones.

It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder among adults, since there are no tests for it and the symptoms may be similar to other fears. Someone who suffers from separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically does so after experiencing an event that was traumatic or a major loss. There are studies that suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. There are many treatment options available for people suffering from. People with separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. Parents with 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 persists throughout elementary school, and is manifested by physical symptoms and impedes daily functioning. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children, with an average age of 7 years.

Your child's healthcare provider will conduct a thorough examination to rule out any physical problems that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical problems are identified, your child's healthcare provider will refer them to an expert in mental health who has experience in anxiety disorders. For children, this will most likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is typically the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will assist your child to help them learn healthy ways of managing their feelings, increasing confidence and independence, as well as building their resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how they can help their child and aid them with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is often treated with medication, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

The therapist will determine which treatment option is best for your child based on their specific needs. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, like, may benefit from a combination cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. generalized anxiety disorder means exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually in small steps until they are comfortable with them.

Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they get older, and their symptoms will diminish. Some adults may still have symptoms of separation anxiety in their adult life. It can be difficult to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or going to work. Adults with separation anxiety disorder have a high percentage of co-occurring conditions, such as other anxiety disorders depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a range of substance use disorders.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common among many children. However, for some it can be an issue that causes problems with their lives and prevents them from taking part in activities they like. Consult a mental health specialist if your child's fear is affecting their daily routine.

Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other major attachment figures. They are always worried about being abducted, lost, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of loved ones to them. They might also have trouble sleeping at night on their own, or they might refuse to go to school, camp, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child last at minimum four weeks. Often, the healthcare provider will interview the child and their parents separately to get a full picture of the situation. They might ask questions regarding other anxiety disorders or changes in life, such as family history or life events that may have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation differs according to the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Children express anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example, they may worry that their parents might be involved in a car accident or attacked by burglars. In contrast, older children with separation anxiety often deny they have any anxiety about leaving their home.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It typically involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their fears. In some cases, a mixture of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, is utilized.

It's important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's anxiety about separation. Children need to be aware that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They can only grow by receiving clear, firm boundaries, and assistance in conquering their fears.