Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorders affect children and adolescents who fret overly when they are away from their parents, caregivers, or other important people. They might also be concerned that separation could result in negative consequences, such as getting hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medications can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy includes teaching the child to manage fearful situations gradually by providing reassurance and encouragement.

Symptoms

While some anxiety about being away from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people more anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this disorder are concerned that something tragic will happen to their family member while they are separated, like getting lost or becoming ill. They might also be scared of other situations that could make them separated from their loved ones, for example, being kidnapped or getting into a a car accident.

This anxiety disorder can affect adults at any age. It's unclear what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be caused by significant life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. People suffering from this disorder may be overly dependent on children or their romantic partners, and have poor boundaries. Others may view them as being too clingy or demanding.

The symptoms of this condition include excessive distress when someone is separated from their family, severe distress when they're away from work or home and frequent nightmares about separation. These symptoms can make people avoid traveling or other activities that entail a physical separation from their families, such as going to school. Children who suffer from this condition might have physical issues, such as stomach pains when they are worried about being alone.

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 determine how you've faced separation anxiety in the past.

Talk therapy and, in some instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist will teach you and your child how to cope with their fears. They can also help you to approach feared situations in a step-by-step process that helps your child learn how to cope with separations and increase their confidence. The medications can calm the mind and relax the body to ease your child's anxieties.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety is likely to experience extreme anxiety when apart from family members or close friends. Contrary to the normal fears and anxieties that people generally feel, the symptoms of this disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting for more than four weeks for children and up to six months for adults. They create major disruptions to the daily routine and functioning at work and school. It can also impact a person's socialization and ability to develop romantic relationships.

To determine if this disorder is present A mental health professional will interview the patient and observe their behavior. The provider will want to be aware of the time when symptoms began and what causes them to become worse or better. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and trauma history, depending on the age of the patient.

The doctor will also decide whether there is a medical anxiety disorder condition that may cause similar symptoms. It could be due to an illness like cancer or a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. Other causes include family traumas like mental illness of the parents and substance abuse, domestic violence and child neglect and abuse.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult, because there aren't any laboratory tests for the condition, and it may have a variety of symptoms with other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent in adults who have experienced a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who suffer from separation anxiety disorder symptoms in adults disorders in childhood may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later on in their lives.

There are a variety of treatment options available for people with separation anxiety disorder. There are a variety of treatment options available to those suffering from. People with separation anxiety disorder symptoms [to socialbookmark.stream] anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, such a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), or medications like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess continues throughout the elementary school years, and is associated with physical symptoms, and affects everyday functioning. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children the disorder of separation anxiety can affect up to 4% of children and has a median age of 7 years old.

The doctor who treats your child will conduct an exhaustive exam to rule out physical ailments that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are discovered, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. It could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is typically the first treatment option for separation anxiety disorder. The Therapist will help your child learn how to manage their feelings and increase self-confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways they can help their child with anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder physical symptoms disorder is often treated by medication, for example antidepressants such as selective serotoninin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

The therapist will determine which treatment option is best for your child based upon their particular needs. For instance, children suffering from severe anxiety might benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This involves exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually over time by introducing them in small increments until they feel comfortable with them.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder improve as they age, and their symptoms will decrease. However, some adults may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder throughout their adult lives. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, like going back to college or moving for work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders like depression, phobias, and post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common among many children. For others, anxiety over separation can be a major issue that affects their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they love. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's anxiety disorder stress management is affecting their daily life.

Children suffering from separation anxiety experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other major attachment figures. They are constantly worried about being kidnapped or lost, or that an accident will cause them to lose those closest to themselves. They may be having a difficult time falling asleep alone at night, or they might refuse to go to camps, school, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child have lasted at minimum four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child as well as the parents in a separate session to get the full picture. They may ask questions about other anxiety disorders or life changes such as family history and life events that may cause separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety varies depending on the child's age, and the severity of the symptoms. Children express anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might be worried that their parents are involved in a car accident or attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is often ignored by them.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to recognize and control their anxiety. In some instances, a combination of treatments is employed, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children experiencing separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their pleas to parents not to leave them not valid. They will only be able to improve if they receive clear, definite boundaries and help in overcoming their fears.