Description

Separation anxiety is a typical stage of many of the infants and young children. Young children often have a period where they become anxious or distressed when they have to be separated from their parents or primary caregivers. Examples of this may be tears in child care, or get demanding when a new person in possession of them. This usually begins to improve by around 2 to 3 years of age.

In some children, intense and continuous separation anxiety is a sign of a more serious condition known as separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety disorder can be identified as early as preschool age.

Your child may have separation anxiety disorder if the separation anxiety seems to be more intense than in other children of the same age or lasts more time, interferes with school or other daily activities, or include panic attacks or other problem behaviors. Most often, the anxiety of separation refers to the child's anxiety about being away from parents or guardians, but it could refer to another close caregiver.

Less often, separation anxiety disorder can occur in adolescents and adults. This can cause big problems of leaving the house or going to work.

The treatment can reduce the anxiety of separation of the symptoms of the disorder. The treatment may include the specific types of therapy, sometimes in combination with the medicine.

Symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when the symptoms are much more than what is expected for someone of the age of development and causes great suffering or problems in performing daily activities. Symptoms may include:

  • Repeated and intense distress when thinking about separation or when they are away from home or loved ones. This may include being clingy or having tantrums about the separation, that last longer or are more serious than other children of the same age.
  • Constant, intense concern about the loss of a parent or other loved one, an illness, death, or disaster or harm coming to them.
  • The constant worry that something bad is going to happen, such as lost or kidnapped, causing the separation of the parents or other loved ones.
  • Not wanting or refusing to be away from home for fear of separation.
  • Not wanting to be alone at home or in any place without a parent or a loved one is near, if the child has reached an age where you can be alone to wait.
  • Not wanting or refusing to sleep away from home or to go to sleep without a parent or other loved one close to you, if the child has reached an age at which these activities could be expected.
  • Repeated nightmares about separation.
  • Repeated complaints of headaches, stomach aches or other symptoms during or prior to the separation of the parents or other loved ones.

Separation anxiety disorder can occur along with the panic attacks. Panic attacks are repeated outbreaks of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak in a matter of minutes.

When to see a doctor

Separation anxiety disorder do not usually go away without treatment and that can lead to panic disorder and other anxiety disorders in adulthood.

If you have any concerns about your child's separation anxiety, talk with your pediatrician or other health care professional.

Causes

Sometimes, the separation anxiety can be triggered by the stress of life that results in the separation of a loved one. Examples include the parents ' divorce, changing schools, moving to a new location or the death of a loved one. Genetics may play a role in the separation anxiety of becoming separation anxiety disorder.

Risk factors

Separation anxiety disorder most often begins in childhood. But it can continue into adolescence and sometimes in adulthood.

Risk factors may include:

  • The stresses of life or loss in the result of the separation. Examples include the illness or death of a loved one, loss of a beloved pet, the divorce of parents, or move, or go to school.
  • The history of the family. Have blood relatives who have symptoms of anxiety or an anxiety disorder can increase the risk of separation anxiety disorder.
  • Situational problems. Experiencing some type of disaster or traumatic life event may increase the risk of separation anxiety disorder.

Complications

Separation anxiety disorder major causes of the distress and problems functioning at home, in social situations, or work or at school.

Disorders that may occur along with the separation anxiety disorder are:

  • Other anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, phobias, social anxiety disorder or agoraphobia.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Depression.

Prevention

There is No sure way to prevent the disorder of separation anxiety in your child, but these tips can help.

  • Get professional help as soon as possible if you are concerned that your child's anxiety is much worse than others in the same stage of development. The early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and keep the condition from getting worse.
  • Follow the plan of treatment to help prevent relapse or worsening of symptoms.
  • Get your own evidence-based treatment and support if you have anxiety, depression or other mental health problems, so that you can model coping skills healthy child.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder is to find out if your child is going through a typical stage of development or if the symptoms are severe enough to be considered as separation anxiety disorder. After ruling out any medical condition, your child's pediatrician may refer you to a mental health professional with experience in anxiety disorders in children.

To assist in diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, a mental health professional is likely to talk with you and your child, usually together and also separately. Sometimes it's called a psychological evaluation, a structured interview is to talk about the thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated first with psychotherapy. Sometimes the medicine is also used if the therapy alone does not work. Psychotherapy involves working with a trained therapist to decrease separation anxiety symptoms.

Psychotherapy

The cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective form of therapy for separation anxiety disorder. The exposure treatment, a part of the TCC , it has been found to be useful for separation anxiety. During this type of treatment your child can learn to cope with and manage the fears about separation and uncertainty. Also, parents can learn how to effectively provide emotional support and promote independence that suits the age of the child.

Medicine

Sometimes, the combination of the medicine with CBT can be helpful if symptoms of anxiety are serious and a child is not making progress in the therapy alone. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ssris) may be an option for older children and adults.

Lifestyle and home remedies

While separation anxiety disorder gets better with professional treatment, you can also take these steps to help ease your child's separation anxiety:

  • Learn about your child separation anxiety disorder. Talk with your mental health professional to learn about the condition and help your child to understand.
  • Follow the treatment plan. Keep therapy appointments for your child. Consistency makes a big difference.
  • Take action. Learn what triggers your child's anxiety. The practice of the skills learned from the mental health professional so you are ready to deal with your child's feelings of anxiety during the separations.

Coping and support

To deal with a child that has a separation anxiety disorder can be frustrating and cause conflicts with the members of the family. It can also cause a great deal of worry and anxiety for the parents.

Ask your child's therapist for advice on coping and support. For example, the therapist may suggest that you:

  • Show calm support. Encourage your child to try new experiences, the experience of separation and to develop independence with their support. Model of courage when he confronts his own anguish to help your child when facing fears.
  • The practice of saying goodbye. Leave your child with a trusted caregiver for short periods of time to help your child learn that you will return.

It is also important to have a supportive relationship for you, so that you can better help your child.

Preparing for your appointment

If you think your child may have separation anxiety disorder, start by seeing your doctor. The pediatrician may refer you to a mental health professional with experience in anxiety disorders.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Your child's symptoms. Note when they occur, if something seems to be better or worse, and how much they affect day-to-day activities and interactions.
  • What causes your child to be anxious. Include any major life changes or stressful events of your child recently treated, as well as any past traumatic experiences.
  • Any family history of mental health problems. Note: if you, your spouse, your parents, grandparents, siblings, or your other children have had to deal with any mental health problem.
  • Any health problems your child has. Include both the physical health conditions and mental health problems.
  • All medications that your child takes. Also we include all the vitamins, herbs, or other supplements, and dosage.
  • Questions for the health care professional or mental health professional.

Questions may include:

  • What do you think is the cause or worsening of anxiety?
  • Are any tests needed?
  • What type of therapy might help?
  • It would be the medicine help? If so, is there a generic option?
  • In addition to professional treatment, there are steps you can take at home that could help?
  • Do you have some material that can help me learn more? What websites do you suggest?

Feel free to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

The mental health professional is likely to ask questions. For example:

  • What are your child's symptoms, and how severe are they? How do they affect your child's ability to perform daily activities?
  • When did you begin to notice that your child's separation anxiety?
  • How do you respond to your child's anxiety?
  • What, in any case, it seems that your child's anxiety worse? What makes it better?
  • Your child has had a traumatic experience recently or in the past?
  • What, if any, physical or mental health conditions do you have your child?
  • Is your child taking any medications?
  • Do you or any of your blood relatives have ongoing anxiety or other mental health disorders, such as depression?

Be prepared to answer questions that you have time to talk about what's most important to you.

Symptoms and treatment of Separation anxiety disorder