Separation Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety concerning separation by a child from the home or from those to whom the person is attached. This anxiety is beyond that which is expected for the individual’s developmental level.
Usually children with Separation Anxiety Disorder come from families that are close-knit. When separated from home or major attachment figures, they may recurrently exhibit social withdrawal, apathy, sadness, or difficulty concentrating on work or play.
Unlike children who are simply shy, children with separation anxiety disorder may become severely anxious and agitated even when just anticipating being away from their home or primary caregiver.
Separation anxiety disorder is estimated to affect approximately two to five percent of children.
Development of Separation Anxiety Disorder:
Separation anxiety is a normal phenomenon of early childhood. As infants develop, they feel new emotions, usually in a predictable order. Before 8 months of age the infants are adapting to the new world and they have little knowledge of what is ordinary and what may be dangerous, so new situations or experiences seem usual, and not frightening.
During this early period of development the infant gets familiar with the home and the people around him/her and feels comfortable when parents or other known people are present. After this period of growth (after age of 8 months) , lack of familiarity often produces fear because the infant feels that something unusual is going on.
It is a common occurrence for children between the age of 8 – 14 months to get frightened when they meet new people or visit new places. They recognize their parents and environment as a safe zone. When separated from their parents, particularly when away from home, they feel threatened and vulnerable.
Separation anxiety is a normal developmental phenomenon and it usually ends when the child is around 2 years old. At this age, toddlers begin to understand that parents may go away for a short while, but will return later.
Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder:
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The worries about separation can overwhelm a child, even when the separations are brief in nature, such as leaving to go to school, going to sleep, or staying behind at home when a parent goes to the local grocery store.
The child’s fears may sometimes be irrational, such as the fear that the parent may suddenly die or become ill. Young people with separation anxiety disorder may go to great extremes to avoid separating from their home or caregivers. They may argue against leaving a parent’s side, refuse to play with friends, or complain about physical illness at the time of separating. Frequently, a child tolerates separation from one parent more easily than separation from the other parent.
Treatment:
For older children who have not outgrown separation anxiety within the normal developmental timetable or who have regressed to it under stress, effective treatments may include:
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Changes in parenting techniques
- Counseling for the parents and child
Treatment for severe cases may include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Family education
- Family therapy
Counseling for separation anxiety disorder:
Counseling helps children with separation anxiety disorder and the people involved in the situation. The initial approach is to understand the symptoms of the disorder and that they are caused by a disorder with complex genetic and environmental origins and due to neurochemical imbalances. The counselor will work with the child to eradicate any sense of guilt or fears about personality.
As the patient develops an understanding of the disorder the impact of symptoms are reduced. Many types of psychological interventions are available for treating separation anxiety, before undertaking any form of therapy the parents need to discuss their child’s particular needs with their doctor to determine the right kind of psychological treatments that will benefit the child.
Individual psychotherapy: It is usually the recommended treatment for children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder. The goals of this therapy are to identify any negative patterns of thinking and negative self-image the child may carry as a result of this disorder. It is common for a child to feel like a failure or social handicap due to the disorder and the child may carry a poor self-image, assuming that the disorder was their fault. Individual psychotherapy can help identify the symptoms, and can help young people overcome their sense of failure and inadequacy.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): Cognitive therapy is based on the premise that individuals use negative filters to exaggerate negative situations and ignore any positive events occurring in their life. It is geared towards teaching the child or adolescent , the skills and methods to identify negative patterns of thinking and replace them with a more healthy way of interpreting events.
The individual is then asked to practice new thoughts, feelings, or reactions in their regular environment and later discuss their experiences with the psychologist.
Parent guidance sessions are designed to educate the parent and teach them new and effective parenting skills.
Group psychotherapy many children suffering from separation anxiety disorder and it provides them a safe place to talk with other children who face similar problems.
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