Separation Anxiety Disorder – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Separation anxiety affects many young children. It typically emerges as distress when they’re parted from parents or primary caregivers.
Common signs include crying during daycare drop-offs or becoming upset when held by unfamiliar people. For most children, these feelings naturally decrease around ages 2-3.
Some children experience a more severe form called separation anxiety disorder. This can be detected as early as preschool age. Key differences between normal separation anxiety and the disorder include:
- Intensity: Reactions are significantly stronger than peers of similar age.
- Duration: Anxiety persists longer than developmentally expected.
- Impact: Interferes with school attendance or daily activities.
- Symptoms: May include panic attacks or problematic behaviors.
While separation anxiety typically centers on parent-child separation, it can extend to other close caregivers. This disorder can also affect teenagers and adults, potentially creating significant difficulties with leaving home or attending work.
The good news is that effective treatments exist for separation anxiety disorder. These typically include:
- Specialized therapy approaches
- Medication in some cases
- Combined therapy and medication when appropriate
With proper treatment, most people experience a reduction in symptoms and improved daily functioning.
Signs of Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a person shows symptoms that go beyond what’s normal for their age and cause serious problems in daily life. People with this disorder may show many different signs.
Children might feel very upset when thinking about being apart from family or when they’re away from home. They may cling to parents or have severe tantrums about separation that are worse than what other children their age experience.
Many worry constantly that a parent or loved one will get sick, die, or be hurt in some way. They often fear that something terrible like being kidnapped or lost will separate them from their family.
Children with this disorder may:
- Refuse to leave home due to separation fears
- Avoid being alone at home or in other places
- Resist sleeping away from home or going to bed without a parent nearby
- Have repeated nightmares about separation
- Complain often about headaches, stomachaches, or other physical problems before or during separation
Some people with separation anxiety also experience panic attacks. These are sudden periods of intense fear that peak quickly and cause physical symptoms like a racing heart.
When to Get Medical Help
Without proper treatment, separation anxiety disorder typically persists. It may also lead to other anxiety problems later in life, including panic disorder.
If you notice your child showing signs of separation anxiety that interfere with school, friendships, or family activities, speak with their doctor. Early intervention can help manage symptoms and prevent long-term difficulties.
Causes
Separation anxiety may start due to stressful life events that cause separation from someone close. This can happen when parents divorce, a child changes schools, a family moves to a new place, or someone dies.
Genetic factors might also play a part when normal separation anxiety develops into separation anxiety disorder. Some people may inherit a tendency to experience more severe anxiety when separated from loved ones.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase the chance of developing separation anxiety disorder:
Stressful Life Events – The illness or death of someone close, losing a pet, parents getting divorced, or moving to a new home can trigger separation anxiety.
Family Connections: If your relatives have anxiety problems, you might be more likely to develop separation anxiety disorder.
Traumatic Experiences: Going through a disaster or frightening event may raise the risk of developing this condition.
Separation anxiety disorder typically starts in childhood but can sometimes continue into teen years and adulthood.
Complications
Separation anxiety disorder often leads to serious issues at home, school, work, and in social settings. People with this condition may also develop other mental health problems:
- Other anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety, panic attacks, or social anxiety
- Phobias or fear of open spaces (agoraphobia)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression
These additional conditions can make treatment more complex. They may require a comprehensive approach to address all symptoms effectively.
Prevention
Getting early help for a child with strong anxiety can make a big difference. If you notice your child seems much more anxious than other kids their age, seek professional advice right away.
Once a treatment plan is made, stick with it completely. Following the plan helps prevent symptoms from coming back or getting worse over time.
Parents should also take care of their own mental health. If you struggle with anxiety or depression, get evidence-based treatment for yourself. When you manage your own mental health well, you show your child healthy ways to handle difficult feelings.
Remember that while you can’t always prevent separation anxiety disorder, these steps can help reduce its impact on your child’s life.
