From The Web: 20 Fabulous Infographics About Anxiety Disorder Separati…

Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder

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

Children with separation anxiety disorders can be treated with therapy and medication. The child is taught to tackle feared situations slowly, with confidence.

Signs and symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder is more intense than normal anxiety in the event of being separated from family members and primary caregivers. People suffering from this disorder fear that their loved ones will suffer a tragic event when they are separated. This could include getting lost or becoming 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 with a car.

This anxiety disorder can be experienced by adults at any age. It's not known what causes adult separation anxiety, but it can be caused by significant life changes or prior mental health issues such as depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their spouses or children and exhibit poor boundaries. Others may see them as overly clingy and demanding.

This condition is characterized by excessive distress when someone is separated from family, significant distress while away from home or at work, and recurrent thoughts of separation. These symptoms can make people avoid travel or other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, such as returning to school. Children who suffer from this condition may have trouble sleeping or suffer from a range of physical issues including headaches or stomach pains when they are worried about being left alone.

A healthcare professional will ask you about your past and current symptoms, or the symptoms of your child to diagnose separation anxiety. They will also ask you about your family and other relationships to determine how you have dealt with separation anxiety in the past.

Treatment for this disorder includes therapy for talk and, in certain cases, medication. Your therapist can show you and your child how to cope with their fears. They can help you and your child learn how to deal with separations through a step by step process. The medications can calm the mind, relax the body and reduce your child's anxiety.

Diagnosis

A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder symptoms in adults anxiety will feel extreme distress when apart from home or close attachment figures. Unlike normal fear and worry that most people experience these symptoms disorder can be persistent, typically lasting longer than four weeks for children, and up to up to six months for adults. They can cause significant disruption to daily activities and performance at work and school. The condition can also hinder with the ability of a person to establish romantic relationships and socialize.

A mental health professional will interview and observe the patient's behavior in order to diagnose this disorder. The provider will ask when symptoms first started and what causes the symptoms to become worse or better. Depending on the individual's age an expert in mental health might also inquire about any recent events that could have caused stress, as well as any previous trauma history.

The provider will also try to determine whether the fear is the result of a different medical condition that may cause similar symptoms, for example an illness, like cancer or a neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include childhood family adversities such as parental mental illnesses or domestic violence, abuse of substances and child neglect and abuse.

The diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder in adults is more difficult since there aren't any lab tests for the condition and it can share many symptoms with other phobias. Anyone who develops a separation anxiety disorder in their adulthood typically experiences it after an event that was traumatic or a major loss. Some studies suggest that people who have been diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder in their childhood are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders later in life.

A variety of treatment options are available to those suffering from separation anxiety disorder. People suffering from separation anxiety disorder can overcome their phobia through therapy, including cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) or prescription medications like selective serotonin antagonists and antidepressants. Parents who suffer from this disorder can benefit from strategies and education to strengthen their relationship with their child.

Treatment

Separation anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when a child's fear of strangers and clinginess continues throughout the elementary school years, and is associated with physical symptoms, and affects daily activities. According to BetterHelp, an online therapy service for children that treat separation anxiety disorder, it affects up to 4% and has a median age of 7 years old.

The healthcare provider for your child will conduct a thorough exam to determine if there are any physical issues that may be causing their anxiety. If no physical problems are discovered, the healthcare provider for your child will refer them to an anxiety disorder specialist. For children, this will most likely be a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is typically the first option for treating separation anxiety disorder. The therapist will assist your child to help them develop healthy ways of managing their emotions, boosting confidence and independence, as well as building their resilience. The therapist will also instruct parents on how they can support their child and help them with their anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is usually treated with medication, such as antidepressants, such as selective serotoninin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs).

Based on the specific needs of your child's requirements, their therapy therapist will determine which options are best therapy for anxiety disorder for their specific needs. For example, children with severe anxiety might benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This is the process of gradually exposing your child to the situations that cause anxiety in small steps until they feel comfortable.

Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they grow older, and their symptoms will diminish. However, some adults may still suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be difficult for them keep relationships going or to achieve certain career goals such as returning to college or going 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

For many kids who are anxious about separation, it is a normal part of development. However, for some it can be an issue that causes problems with their lives and stops them from participating in activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's anxiety is affecting their daily life.

Children suffering from separation anxiety experience extreme distress when separated from their parents or other significant relationships. They are constantly concerned about being kidnapped or lost, or that an accident will result in the loss of those closest to them. They might have difficulty falling to sleep at night, or refusing to go to play dates, school or camp without their parents.

Doctors will not diagnose separation anxiety until the symptoms of a child are present for at least four weeks. The healthcare professional may interview both the child and parents separately to get the full picture. They might also inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety, family history, and life changes that might have caused or made the separation anxiety worse.

Treatment for separation anxiety differs based on 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 are involved in a car accident or harmed by burglars. Separation anxiety in older children is often ignored by them.

Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children suffering from separation anxiety. It involves teaching relaxation techniques to children and assisting them to recognize and control their anxiety. In some instances the combination of treatments 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 to stay home are not valid, and they will only improve if they're given clear, firm boundaries and support as they work to overcome their fears.