anxiety-disorders

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety DisorderSeparation anxiety disorders affect children and adolescents who worry overly when they are away from their parents, caregivers, or other important people. They may also worry that separation could result in negative consequences, such as being lost or hurt.Psychotherapy and medication are a great option to treat children with separation anxiety disorder. Therapy involves teaching the child to deal with fearful situations slowly by providing reassurance and encouragement.Signs and symptomsAlthough some anxiety about being separated from loved ones is normal, separation anxiety disorder makes people more anxious than other people when it comes to the separation from family members and primary caregiver figures. People with this condition are worried that something bad will happen to their family member while they are separated, such as losing their way or falling ill. They might also be afraid of other situations that can separate them from their loved ones for example, being kidnapped or being involved in a car accident.The onset of this disorder typically begins in the earliest years of life, however adults can develop it at any age. It’s unclear what causes separation anxiety in adults, but it can be triggered by significant life changes or prior mental health issues like depression or PTSD. People with this condition may feel overly dependent on their children or their romantic partners, and lack boundaries. Others can view them as overly clingy and demanding.The signs of this disorder include extreme stress when someone is separated from their family, severe distress when they are away from their home or at work and frequent nightmares of separation. These symptoms can make people avoid travel or other activities that involve the physical separation of their families, like going to school. Children who suffer from this condition might have physical issues, such as headaches or stomach pains when they worry about being on their own.To diagnose this disorder a healthcare provider will ask about your or your child’s previous and current symptoms. They will ask you 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 some cases medications. Your therapist will show 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 will help your child learn how to cope with separations and increase their confidence. The medication can relax the mind and relax the body to ease your child’s anxieties.DiagnosisSeparation anxiety disorder can cause a person to feel extreme distress if they are away from their home or other close family members. In contrast to the normal anxiety and fear that most people experience these symptoms disorder are persistent, often lasting for more than four weeks in children, and up to more than six months for adults. They cause major disruption to the daily routine and functioning at school and work. It can also impact a person’s socialization and ability to develop romantic relationships.To diagnose this disorder A mental health professional will interview the patient and observe their behavior. The provider will want to know when the symptoms started and what makes them worse or better. A mental health professional will ask about recent events and the history of trauma in relation to the age of the patient.The provider will also determine whether there is a medical condition that could cause similar symptoms. This could be an illness such as cancer or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family traumas like parental mental illnesses or domestic violence, abuse of substances and child abuse and neglect.It is a challenge to identify separation anxiety disorder in adults because there aren’t any lab tests and the symptoms could be similar to the symptoms of other phobias. Separation anxiety disorder is more frequent among adults who have suffered an emotional trauma or a major loss. There are studies that suggest that those who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder as children are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety disorder s in adulthood.Several treatment options are available for those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. People with separation anxiety disorder can overcome their fear through therapy, like a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin receptor antagonists and antidepressants. Parents suffering from this disorder can benefit from methods and training to strengthen their relationship with their child.TreatmentAlthough many children experience a period when they become clingy and fearful of strangers, when this anxiety persists through elementary school and beyond, is accompanied by physical symptoms, and interferes with daily functioning it could be a sign 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 a median age of 7 years old.Your child’s doctor will perform an exhaustive exam to rule out physical problems that could be causing anxiety. If no physical ailments are found, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children, this will most likely be a psychiatrist or child psychologist.Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will assist your child to learn healthy ways to manage their emotions, increase self-confidence and independence, as well as build resilience. The therapist will educate parents on how they can aid their child suffering from anxiety. The use of medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed in addition to psychotherapy for separation anxiety disorder.Based on your child’s individual needs, their therapy therapist will determine which options are best for them. For instance, children who suffer from extreme anxiety may benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually expose your child to situations that trigger anxiety over time in small steps until they are comfortable.Most often, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they grow older and their symptoms decrease. However, some adults may have symptoms of separation anxiety throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to keep relationships going or to achieve certain career goals like returning to college or moving to work. Adults suffering from separation disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders like depression, phobias, and post-traumatic disorder.The following is a list of preventatives.Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in many children. For others, anxiety over separation can be a serious issue that interferes in their lives and hinders their participation in activities they enjoy. If your child’s anxiety is disrupting their routine, talk to an expert in mental health.Children suffering from separation anxiety experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other important relationships. They are constantly worried about being lost, kidnapped, or experiencing an accident that could result in the loss of people who are close to them. They may struggle to fall to sleep at night, or refusing to go to play dates, school or camp without their parents.The signs of separation anxiety in children should last for at least four weeks before a physician can diagnose the condition. Most often, the healthcare professional will interview the child and parents in a separate interview to get an accurate picture of the situation. They may ask about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety, family history, and life events that could have caused or made separation anxiety worse.Treatment for separation anxiety is determined by the child’s age and the severity of the symptoms. Children express their anxiety through worrying about their attachment figures. For example they might worry that their parents might be in a car crash or be attacked by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is frequently denied by them.Children with separation anxiety are often treated with behavioral therapy. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and helping them identify and manage their anxiety. In some instances it is necessary to combine treatments is employed, such as cognitive therapy and medication.It’s important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children’s separation anxiety. Children need to be taught that their pleas for parents to stay home are not valid, and they’ll only improve if they’re provided with clear, definite boundaries and a lot of support while they work to overcome their fears.