Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Children and adolescents suffering from separation anxiety disorder are anxious about being away from their caregivers, parents or other important people in their lives. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, like getting lost or injured.

Children suffering from separation anxiety can be treated with therapy and medication. The child is taught to handle feared situations slowly, with reassurance.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety when it comes to being separated from family and primary caregivers. People suffering from this condition are worried that something bad will occur to their family member while they are separated, like losing their way or falling ill. They may also fear other situations that could keep them from their loved ones, such as being abducted or being involved in an accident.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. Adult separation anxiety isn't known to be caused by any specific factor however it could be triggered by life changes such as depression, depression, or PTSD. The people who suffer from this condition can feel overly dependent on their spouses or children and display a lack of boundaries. Others may see them as excessively demanding and clingy.

The signs of this disorder include excessive distress when someone is separated from their family, severe distress when they're away from home or work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or engaging in other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, like returning to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or experience a variety of physical issues, such as headaches or stomach pains in the event of anxiety about being on their own.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your current and past symptoms or those of your child in order to determine if you suffer from separation anxiety. They will inquire about your family, and other relationships, to determine how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Treatment for this disorder can include talking therapy and, in certain cases medication. Your therapist will teach you and your children how to cope with the fear. They can also help you deal with situations that scare you through a step-by-step method that can help your child understand how to handle separations and increase their confidence. The medicines can help calm the brain and body, as well as help ease your child's fears.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety will experience extreme stress when they are away from their home or close attachment figures. Unlike normal fear and worry that most people feel these symptoms disorder are long-lasting, usually lasting longer than four weeks in children and up to six months in adults, and they can cause significant disruption to daily life and function at school and work. The condition can also hinder with the ability of a person to form romantic relationships and socialize.

To determine if this disorder is anxiety a disord a stage that makes them clingy and fearful of strangers When this fear persists into elementary school and beyond and is accompanied by physical symptoms, and interferes with daily functioning, it may be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. In fact, according to the BetterHelp online therapy service, separation anxiety disorder is the most prevalent anxiety disorder that is diagnosed in children that affects up to 4% of them, with an age at onset of around 7 years.

Your child's doctor will perform a thorough examination to rule out physical ailments that could be causing anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered the healthcare provider of your child will refer them to a mental health professional who has experience in anxiety disorders. It could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is usually the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will help your child learn healthy ways to manage their feelings to increase self-confidence, confidence and independence, and build resilience. The therapist will educate parents on ways to aid their child suffering from anxiety. Medication, including antidepressants like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed along with psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.

The therapist will determine which treatment option is best for your child based on their individual needs. Children with extreme anxiety, for instance, may benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually by introducing them in small increments until they are comfortable with them.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder improve as they age, and their symptoms will diminish. Some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation disorder in their adult life. This could make it difficult to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals, such as going back to college or moving for work. Adults with separation disorder are more likely to develop co-occurring disorders like depression, phobias, and post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

For many kids with separation anxiety, it's an inevitable part of the development process. For others, it can become a serious problem that interferes with their lives and blocks them from participating in activities they enjoy. Consult a mental health professional if your child's fear affects their daily routine.

Separation Anxiety Disorder (Dayfender7.Werite.Net) is a condition in which children experience severe distress when separated from parents or other family members. They are always worried about being snatched away, missing, or having an accident that will result in the loss of loved ones to them. They might have difficulty falling asleep at night or refusing to go to play dates, school or camp without parents.

The symptoms of separation anxiety in children must last for at least 4 weeks before a doctor can diagnose the condition. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents separately to get an accurate picture of the situation. They may ask about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history as well as changes in life that may have caused or made separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety is dependent on the age of the child, and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety by worrying about their attachment figures. For example, they may worry that their parents might be involved in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. However, older children with separation anxiety typically deny that they have any anxiety about leaving the house.

Behavioral therapy is a popular treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety disorder remedies. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and control their fears. In some cases the combination of treatments is employed, such as medication and cognitive therapy.

It's important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's anxiety about separation. Children must be taught that their requests for parents not to leave are not valid, and they will only get better if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a helping hand as they try to overcome their fears.