Table of contents:
- What is Separation Anxiety Disorder ?: Signs and symptoms
- Separation Anxiety Disorder in Adults
- Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
- DSM V Criteria for Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Causes of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
- Consequences of separation anxiety disorder in children
- Treatment of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
Sometimes our son or daughter will be sad or nervous when we are away. In a way it is normal, we are a very important figure for the little one, by our side he feels that everything is going well, but an excessively dependent bond is never good. When this restlessness transforms into strong fits and tantrums, we may find ourselves with the appearance of a Separation Anxiety Disorder.
It is very important to detect these types of behaviors to treat them in time and prevent the little one from worsening and aggravating his disorder. If you want to know more about Separation Anxiety Disorder in children: symptoms and treatment, we invite you to continue reading this article from Psychology-Online.
You may also be interested in: Anxiety disorders: what are they, symptoms, types, causes and treatment Index- What is Separation Anxiety Disorder ?: Signs and symptoms
- DSM V Criteria for Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Causes of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
- Consequences of separation anxiety disorder in children
- Treatment of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
What is Separation Anxiety Disorder ?: Signs and symptoms
This disorder is characterized by a strong negative response to the idea of separating from an emotionally important person, either for a brief moment or for a season. This response is defined by excessive feelings of anxiety, stress, and distress. In addition, various physical symptoms such as agitation, rapid heart rate and nausea may also appear .
Separation Anxiety Disorder in Adults
We understand that, as a general rule, this disorder only occurs in children, but that is not true. Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) occurs in adults with symptoms very similar to those presented by the youngest, in fact, it can have its onset after 18 years of age. Although the symptoms may be very similar, they contrast more with the behaviors that are established for their age and, therefore, seem more serious symptoms.
Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
This problem tends to affect children more. In addition, it is also given more importance because in them the treatment is simpler and the cure somewhat more viable. The child with SAD often suffers from excessive fear and anxiety when he knows that an attachment figure is going to move away from him. It is important to know how to differentiate a bit of nerves (on the first day of class or a field trip) from what the disorder itself is, from the disability and the child's irrational fear of being alone. For that reason, several diagnostic criteria have been developed.
DSM V Criteria for Separation Anxiety Disorder
DSM V is a manual that collects the symptoms and the diagnosis of different mental pathologies, this same manual defines the following criteria to diagnose SAD 1:
A: Excessive and inappropriate fear or anxiety for the individual's developmental level concerning their separation from those with whom they feel attached, evidenced by at least three of the following circumstances:
- Excessive and recurrent discomfort when a separation from home or from the most attached figures is anticipated or experienced.
- Excessive and persistent worry about the possible loss of the most attached figures or that they may suffer possible harm, such as illness, injury, calamities or death.
- Excessive and persistent worry about the possibility that an adverse event (eg, getting lost, being abducted, having an accident, becoming ill…) will cause the separation of a highly attached figure.
- Persistent resistance or refusal to go far from home, to school, to work, or elsewhere for fear of separation.
- Excessive and persistent fear or resistance to being alone or without the most attached figures at home or elsewhere.
- Persistent resistance or refusal to sleep outside the home or to sleep without being near a highly attached figure.
- Repeated nightmares on the subject of separation.
- Repeated complaints of physical symptoms (eg, headache, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting…) when the separation of the most attached figures occurs or is anticipated.
B: The fear, anxiety or avoidance is persistent, lasting at least four weeks in children and adolescents and typically six or more months in adults.
C: The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, academic, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D: The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as refusal to leave home due to excessive resistance to change in an autism spectrum disorder; delusions or hallucinations concerning separation in psychotic disorders; refusal to go out without someone you trust in agoraphobia; concern about unhealthy health or other harm that may happen to close relatives or significant others in generalized anxiety disorder; or worry about having a disease in illness anxiety disorder.
Causes of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
Like many other mental pathologies, SAD has a multifactorial origin, that is, there are several risk factors that can precipitate a child to suffer from this disorder:
- Temperament: several studies show that a more shy and insecure character is more likely to develop this disorder. Probably, given the latent insecurity, they need constant external reinforcement.
- Anxiety regulation strategies: A child who does not know how to handle his anxiety will get carried away by it. In addition, thinking that something is uncontrollable increases the insecurity of the little one and feeds the Separation Anxiety Disorder.
- Managing emotions: in the same way that controlling anxiety can prevent the appearance of SAD, managing emotions helps the disorder not get worse. At times, the child can become very afraid and anguished at the idea of separating from their parents or a loved one, but the key is to manage the anguish in the best possible way to avoid those feelings from getting worse.
- Neurological factors: several experiments have been carried out to establish a relationship between neurotransmitters and emotions. In this particular case, between some hormones and Separation Anxiety Disorder. The results show that a poor regulation of norepinephrine (a hormone of the nervous system) is related to the appearance of anxiety in children and adults.
Consequences of separation anxiety disorder in children
If we do not treat this disorder correctly, over the years it can lead to other types of mental ailments, such as social phobia or other conduct disorders. The high levels of stress to which the little one is subjected can cause important consequences in their cognitive system:
- Generalized anxiety
- Social phobia
- Paranoid ideas
- School dropout
- Addictions to other substances
- Maintenance of the disorder in adulthood
- Toxic and dependent relationships
In general, SAD greatly affects the quality of life of those who suffer from it. It is important to analyze the consequences to make people aware of the urgency of treatment in children.
Treatment of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children
This disorder can be treated effectively by combining psychological and pharmacological therapy. It should be noted that the use of drugs is not always indicated for minors.
Unless they present symptoms that make their day-to-day life difficult, it is best to go to a specialist who knows how to deal with separation anxiety. One of the most used strategies for the treatment of SAD in children is to teach the child to trust himself, avoid obsessions and train independence.
By doing exercises step by step, we can make the child learn coping strategies for anxiety. Your self-esteem will increase as you see that you are able to overcome small crises. If your self-esteem grows, you will generate better strength and you will depend less and less on your father or mother figure.
It is important to treat the child as soon as possible, so we avoid the use of drugs in minors and teach them to generate their own tools to be able to overcome any obstacle in life.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References- Source: American Psychiatric Association