Separation Anxiety in Adults

Separation anxiety is usually common among children who exhibit fear of being separated from their parents or whoever their caregiver is.  When they are separated from these people, they have an unreasonable fear that something horrible will happen either to their caretaker or to themselves.  Separation anxiety is usually experienced during the early stages in a child’s life. 

Though separation anxiety occurs in normally in children, it can also occur in adults as well.  Separation anxiety in adults is not as generalized as a child’s separation anxiety disorder, but is only a manifestation or a symptom of a bigger issue that is occurring in the adult’s life.  Separation anxiety in adults may occur when an adult is dealing with separation such as a marital separation, or even death of a loved one.  Separation anxiety in adults may also be a symptom of developing anxieties such as phobias.

Symptoms that a child may be experiencing separation anxiety are the following:

• Excessive crying
• Fearing for the safety of his or her parent
• Withdrawal from normal activities such as playing with other children
• Being inconsolable
• Persistent refusal to attend school in fear of being separated from their parent
• Complaining of headaches or stomachaches when in school or when away from their parent
• Refusal to go to sleep without his parent being nearby
• Refusal to go to sleep in other places that are away from home
• Having reoccurring nightmares about being left alone or being separated

Below are some criteria for children who are experiencing or suffering from separation anxiety disorder:

• The duration of symptoms usually is for four consecutive weeks.
• Occurs before 18 years of age
• The disorder may cause clinically diagnosed depression or depress which causes interference with social or academic activities and functions

There are several treatments for separation anxiety disorder such as:

Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy.  In this approach, the psychotherapists helps in challenging the negative thoughts that occur in the child’s mind and offers alternatives to help deal with them.

• Medication - For extreme cases, some children are advised to take antidepressants to deal with the disorder.
  
• Family Therapy -  This approach involves all those who are affected by the child’s separation anxiety disorder such as other relatives by trying to analyze what may be contributing to the problem and how to deal with it.
  
• Play Therapy -  This works well with younger children by using puppets, games, or other material that will help the child to express his or her feelings more.
  
• Relaxation Techniques -  This approach requires the patient to practice deep breathing and using language that can help sooth one’s moods.

Any of these techniques or even a combination of any will help greatly in the overcoming of separation anxiety. 

Treatment for separation anxiety in adults can also involve cognitive therapy to help determine what are the fears that are linked to the irrational thinking processes in the adult.  Behavioral techniques can also be used to help the patient to eliminate negative thoughts and act in a better way while going through the struggle with his or her fears.

More information about Anxiety Treatment | Back to Separation Anxiety Disorder.