What To Say About Anxiety Disorder Separation To Your Mom

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

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

Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. The child is taught to tackle feared situations slowly, with assurance.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more severe than normal anxiety in the event of being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People who suffer from this disorder are concerned that something tragic will occur to their family member when they are separated, like being lost or getting sick. They might also be scared of other situations that could make them separated from their loved ones, such as being kidnapped or having a an accident in a vehicle.

The onset of this anxiety disorder typically occurs in childhood, though adults can develop it at any age. It's unclear what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be triggered by major life changes or by previous mental health disorders, like depression or PTSD. The people who suffer from this condition may be overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners and exhibit poor boundaries. Others may view them as being overly demanding or clingy.

The signs of this disorder include extreme stress when a person is cut off from their family, significant distress when they are away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can cause people to avoid traveling or other activities that require physical separation from family members, for example, returning to school. Children with this condition may have trouble sleeping or may experience a variety of physical issues, such as headaches or stomachaches, when they are worried about being left alone.

A healthcare provider will ask you about your past and current symptoms or those of your child in order to diagnose separation anxiety. They will also inquire about your family and other relationships to determine how you have faced separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder can include therapy for talk and, in some cases medication. Your therapist will instruct you and your children how to deal with the anxiety. They can help you and your child to learn to manage separations in a step-by- steps. Medications can help to calm the brain and relax the body, which can help ease your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

Separation anxiety disorder can cause people to experience extreme anxiety when they are away from their home or attachment figures. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder can be more severe than normal anxiety and fear. They can last for up to six months in adults and for up to four weeks in children. They cause major disruptions in daily life as well as school and work. It can also impact a person's socialization and ability to establish romantic relationships.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior to determine the cause of the disorder. The provider will want to know when the symptoms started and what causes them to become worse or better. Depending on the individual's age an expert in mental health might also inquire about recent events that might be causing stress, as well as any past trauma.

The provider will also try to determine if the phobia is a result of another medical condition that can cause similar symptoms, such as an illness, like cancer or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as mental illness in the family or domestic violence, substance abuse and neglect and abuse of children.

It can be difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder among adults, as there aren't any lab tests and the symptoms can be similar to those of other phobias. A person who develops a separation anxiety disorder in adulthood typically is a victim of an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Certain studies suggest that those who were diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in their childhood are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

Several treatment options are available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fear. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from parental education and methods to improve the quality of their relationship with their children.

Treatment

While many children go through a stage when they become anxious and clingy to strangers When this fear persists into the elementary years and beyond and is manifested as physical symptoms and affects daily functioning, it may be an indication of separation anxiety disorder. According to BetterHelp an online therapy service for children the disorder of separation anxiety is a problem that affects as many as 4% of children with an average age of 7 years old.

Your child's doctor will perform an extensive exam to rule out physical problems that could cause anxiety. If no physical problems are found then the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. For children it will likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

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

The therapist will determine the best treatment option for your child based on their specific needs. For example, children with extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This means gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety in small steps until they are comfortable.

Often,  anxiety medications  with separation anxiety disorder improve as they age, and their symptoms will decrease. However, some adults might still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging for them maintain relationships or to pursue certain career goals such as returning to school or moving to work. Adults who suffer from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, such as depression, phobias and post-traumatic disorder.

The following is a list of preventatives.

Separation anxiety is common among many children. But for others it can turn into a serious problem that interferes with their lives and prevents them from taking part in activities they like. Speak to a mental healthcare specialist if your child's fear is affecting their daily routine.

Separation anxiety disorder is a disorder in which children experience severe distress when they are away from their parents or other family members. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped, or lost or that an accident could cause them to lose the people closest to them. They may struggle to fall asleep at night or refuse to go to school, play dates or camp without their parents.

A child's separation anxiety symptoms should last for at least four weeks before a doctor can diagnose the condition. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents separately to obtain the complete picture. They may also ask questions about other anxiety disorders or changes in the life such as family history or life events that might have triggered the separation anxiety.

Treatment for separation anxiety is determined according to the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms. Younger children usually express their anxiety through specific concerns about harm to their attachment figures for example, a fear that their parents will get in a car accident or be attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is often dismissed by them.

Children who have anxiety about separation are often treated using behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to identify and manage their anxiety. In some cases the combination of therapies is used, including cognitive therapy and medication.

Adults should be consistent in their responses to children experiencing separation anxiety. Children need to understand that their pleas to parents not to let them go are not valid. They will only improve if they receive clear, definite boundaries and support in overcoming their fears.