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Children and Teens With Separation Anxiety Disorder Separation anxiety disorders affect adolescents and children who worry frequently when they are not from their parents, caregivers or other significant people. They might also worry about the negative consequences of separation, like being lost or getting hurt. Psychotherapy and medication can be used to treat children with separation anxiety disorders. The child is taught to approach feared situations slowly, with reassurance. Symptoms While some anxiety about being apart from loved ones is normal separation anxiety disorder causes people much more intensely anxious than other people when it comes to being separated from family members and primary caregiving figures. People suffering from this condition are worried that something tragic will occur to their family member while they are separated, like being lost or getting sick. They might also be afraid of other situations that could separate them from their loved ones, including being abducted or having a car accident. The onset of this disorder typically occurs in the early years of childhood, but adults can be affected at any time. It isn't known what causes separation anxiety in adults, but it can be caused by significant life changes or previous mental health disorders, like depression or PTSD. People who suffer from this disorder may feel too dependent on their children or their romantic partners and have trouble establishing boundaries. Others can view them as overly clingy and demanding. The symptoms of this condition include extreme stress when a person is cut off from their family, severe distress when they are away from their home or at work and recurrent nightmares involving separation. These symptoms can cause people avoid traveling or engaging in other activities that involve a physical separation from family members, such as returning to school. Children with this condition may have difficulty sleeping or suffer from a range of physical problems including headaches or stomachaches, when they are worried about being left alone. To diagnose this disorder medical professionals will inquire about your or your child's past and current symptoms. They will ask you about your family, and other relationships, to determine how you've dealt with separation anxiety before. Talk therapy and, in a few instances, medications are used to treat this condition. Your therapist will teach you and your children how to deal with the fears. They can also assist you to approach feared situations in a step-by-step process that helps your child learn how to handle separations and build up their confidence. The use of medication can help calm the brain and relax the body, which can help ease the anxiety of your child. Diagnosis Separation anxiety disorder causes individuals to feel intense distress if they are away from their home or close relatives. The symptoms of separation anxiety disorder are more persistent than normal anxiety and anxiety and. They can last for up to six months in adults and up to four weeks in children. They cause major disruptions to daily life at school, work, and home. It can also impact the social life of a person and their ability to form romantic relationships. To diagnose this disorder, a mental health professional will interview the patient and observe the patient's behavior. The healthcare provider will want know when the symptoms started and what triggers them to be worse or better. Depending on the person's age the mental health professional might also inquire about any recent events that may have caused stress, as well as any past trauma. The provider will also determine whether there is a medical condition that can cause similar symptoms. This could be due to an illness like cancer or a neurological disorder like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Other causes include family traumas like mental illness of the parents and substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. It is difficult to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in adults, since there are no tests for it and the symptoms could be similar to those of other anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is more common in adults who have experienced a traumatic experience or significant loss. Some studies suggest that people who suffer from separation disorders in childhood are more likely to develop anxiety and depression disorders later in life. Separation anxiety disorder can be treated in many ways. Therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants, can assist people to overcome their fear. People suffering from this disorder typically benefit from education for parents and techniques to improve their relationship with their children. Treatment Many children experience a period that makes them anxious and clingy to strangers When this fear persists into the elementary years and beyond and is manifested as physical symptoms and interferes with daily functioning, it may be a sign of separation anxiety disorder. According to the BetterHelp online therapy service, separation anxiety disorder is the most frequent anxiety disorder diagnosed in kids with up to 4 percent of them, with an age at onset of around 7 years. Your child's healthcare professional will conduct a thorough exam to determine if there are any physical issues that could be causing anxiety. If no physical issues are found the healthcare professional for your child will refer them to an expert in anxiety disorders. For children who are ill, this could be a child psychologist or psychiatrist. Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is typically the first treatment for separation anxiety disorder. The therapy therapist will assist your child to teach them healthy ways to manage their emotions, building confidence and independence, as well as building their resilience. The therapist will also educate parents on how they can help their child with anxiety. Separation anxiety disorder is often treated with medication, such as antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Based on your child's individual needs, the therapy therapist will determine which options are best for the child. Children who suffer from severe anxiety, like might benefit from a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy. This means exposing your child to situations that trigger their anxiety gradually over time by introducing them in small increments until they feel comfortable with them. Typically, children suffering from separation anxiety disorder will improve as they grow older, and their symptoms will diminish. However, some adults could be suffering from separation anxiety disorder throughout their adult lives. It can be challenging to maintain relationships or pursue certain career goals, such as returning to college or going to work. Adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like other anxiety disorders, depression, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of substance use disorders. The following is a list with preventions. For many children, separation anxiety is an expected part of developing. For some, separation anxiety can be a major issue that affects their lives and prevents them from participating in activities they enjoy. Talk to a mental health professional if your child's fear is affecting their daily routine. Separation anxiety disorder is a condition where children suffer from extreme distress when they are away from their parents or other family members. They are always worried about being kidnapped or lost or that an accident could result in the loss of those closest to them. They may also have trouble sleeping on their own at night, or they might refuse to go to camp, school, or play dates without their parents. Doctors do not diagnose separation anxiety until the signs of a child are present for at least four weeks. The healthcare provider can interview both the child and the parents separately to get the full picture. They might also inquire about anxiety disorders that are not related to separation anxiety or family history, as well as life events that could have caused or made separation anxiety more severe. mixed anxiety and depressive disorder for separation anxiety varies depending 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 could be in a car crash or be attacked by a burglar. Separation anxiety in older children is usually ignored by them. Behavioral therapy is a typical treatment for children with separation anxiety. It usually involves teaching children relaxation techniques and teaching them to recognize and manage their fears. In some cases, a combination of treatments is employed, including medication and cognitive therapy. It's important for adults to be consistent in their responses to children's separation anxiety. Children must be taught that their pleas to parents not to let them go are not valid. They will only improve if they receive clear, firm boundaries, and help in conquering their fears.