Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

Many toddlers and young children experience anxiety when separated from a primary caregiver until about age three or four. However, some older children experience Separation Anxiety Disorder, an excessive anxiety or fear when away from home or separated from caregivers. This anxiety can interfere with and limit a child's life by causing them to be isolated from peers, miss opportunities to engage in activities, or cause them to do badly in school. 


Some symptoms of separation anxiety include: 

 

  • School refusal and missing many days of school
  • Clinging to a parent 
  • Refusing to attend school field trips, play dates, sleepovers, or other events
  • Trouble falling asleep or trouble sleeping alone 
  • Frequent worries about bad things happening to caregivers or loss of caregiver
  • Inability to make and maintain friendships due to fear of being away from parents
  • Frequent complaints of headaches, stomach aches or other physical symptoms when separation from a parent is anticipated 
  • Recurrent distress when anticipating or experiencing separation 
  • Nightmares about separation 
  • Symptoms have been occurring for at least four weeks 

 

Separation Anxiety in Adults

Although separation anxiety frequently occurs in children and teens, it can also occur in adults. Separation anxiety occurs in adults when they experience excessive fear when separated from those with whom they are attached, which could be a family member, a spouse, or a roommate. As a result, when separated an adult may experience anxiety, nightmares, and an inability to go to work or leave their home. Although this is more common in young adults leaving home, it can also be prompted in older adults by children leaving home, a spouses’ death, or family moving away. Separation anxiety in adults can lead to significant disturbances in functioning including work attendance, isolation, or difficulty in romantic relationships. 

How is Separation Anxiety treated?

Several types of talk therapy or psychotherapy have been found to be helpful for both children and adults suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help children learn how to better cope with anxiety, recognize anxious feelings, and address thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. For very young children play therapy can be effective as play can be used to process emotions and learn coping skills. Additionally, exposure therapy can help to reduce anxiety over time by gradually exposing children or adults to situations in which they are separated from their parents or attachments. Mindfulness can be helpful to help both children and adults learn to self-soothe during anxious times when separated from caregivers or attachments. Lastly, for children dealing with separation anxiety, parents play a vital role in treatment. Using family therapy, parents can learn strategies to help their child and effective ways to respond to anxiety. 

If you or your child are suffering from any of the above symptoms, you may be suffering from separation anxiety disorder. Contact us for a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss what type of treatment may be right for you. 
Share by: