Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation does anxiety disorder ever go away disorder affects children and adolescents who fret overly when they are away from their parents, caregivers or other important people. They may also worry that separation could have negative consequences, for example, being hurt or lost.

Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children suffering from separation anxiety disorders. The child is taught to tackle difficult situations slowly, with confidence.

Symptoms

While some anxiety over being separated from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder can cause people much more intensely anxious than others when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiving figures. People who suffer from this condition are worried that something bad will occur to their family member if they are separated, such as getting lost or becoming ill. They might also be scared of other situations that could cause separation from their loved ones, such as being kidnapped or having a an accident in a vehicle.

The onset of this disorder typically begins in childhood, though adults can be affected at any age. Adult separation anxiety isn't known to be caused by any specific factor however it can be triggered by life changes, depression, or PTSD. The people who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their spouses or children and display a lack of boundaries. Others may see them as overly 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 work or home and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, such as going back to school. Children suffering from this condition could experience physical problems such as stomach pains when they worry about being alone.

A healthcare professional will inquire with you about your past and current symptoms, or the symptoms of your child to diagnose separation anxiety. They will also inquire about your family, and other relationships, to see how you've been able to manage separation anxiety before.

Talk therapy and, in certain instances, medication are utilized to treat this condition. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the fear. They can help you and your child to learn how to deal with separations in a step by step process. The use of medication can help calm the mind and relax the body, which can help ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder will experience extreme stress when apart from home or close attachment figures. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last for up to six months for adults and up to four weeks in children. They can cause major disruptions in daily life as well as school and work. It can also affect the social life of a person and their ability to develop romantic relationships.

To determine the cause of this disorder A mental health professional will interview the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will ask when symptoms began and what triggers them to get worse or improve. Depending on the individual's age an expert in mental health will also inquire about recent events that could be causing stress, as well as any past trauma.

The doctor will also attempt to determine whether the fear is a result of another medical condition that could cause similar symptoms, for example an illness such as cancer or a neurological issue, such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis. Other causes include childhood family traumas like mental illness in the family and domestic violence, substance abuse and neglect and abuse of children.

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 anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more prevalent among adults who have suffered trauma or a significant loss. Certain studies suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood.

Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, including cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or medication like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. People suffering from this disorder usually benefit from parent education and methods to improve their relationship with their children.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when the child's fear of being around strangers and clinginess persists throughout the elementary school years, and is accompanied with physical symptoms and interferes in daily functioning. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children, separation anxiety disorder affects up to 4% and has an average age of 7 years.

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

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is often the first option of treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will help your child learn healthy ways to manage their emotions to increase self-confidence, confidence, independence, and build resilience. The therapist will educate parents on how they can assist their child who is suffering from anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, including antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Depending on your child's specific needs, their therapist will determine which treatment options are best for the child. Children with extreme generalized anxiety disorder dsm 5, for instance, may benefit from a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that cause anxiety gradually in small steps until they are comfortable with them.

As children get older their symptoms typically decrease. However, some adults may suffer from symptoms of separation disorder in their adult life. It can be difficult to maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals such as returning to school or moving to work. Adults suffering from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.

Prevention

Separation anxiety is common in many children. For some, separation anxiety is a serious problem that affects their lives and hinders their participation in activities they enjoy. Speak to a mental healthcare specialist if your child's fear affects their daily routine.

Children with separation anxiety disorder suffer extreme anxiety when they are separated from their parents or other major family members. They have persistent fears about being abducted, lost, or having an accident that will result in the loss of loved ones to them. They might also have a hard time falling asleep alone at night or they may refuse to go to camps, school, or play dates without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child last at least four weeks. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and their parents separately to obtain an entire picture of the situation. They may also ask questions about other anxiety disorders or life changes, such as family history and life events that may cause separation anxiety.

Treatment for anxiety disorder separation varies depending on the child's age and the severity of the symptoms. Children who are younger typically express their anxiety through specific worries about harm to their attachment figures for example, a fear that their parents could be injured in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is often denied by them.

Children who suffer from separation anxiety are often treated using behavioral therapy. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and assisting them in learning to recognize and control their anxieties. In some instances, a combination of treatments for anxiety disorders is employed, including medication and cognitive therapy.

Adults should be consistent with their responses to children experiencing anxiety about separation. Kids need to know that their pleas for parents not to leave are not valid and they'll only get better if they're provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.