Causes and Cures of Separation Anxiety
Read more articles on Toddlers/Preschoolers.August 27, 2006
Posted by Kim
August 27, 2006
Posted by Kim
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What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety can appear in people of any age. It is most commonly associated with the toddler stages where a child is disturbed when separated from one or both of his or her parents. Separation anxiety can also be a serious issue for people of all ages and can be an attachment to a wide variety of different people. Separation anxiety can also cause the person to have become physically sick as well. People are generally diagnosed with this disorder before the age of 18. It is unlikely to develop after this age.
What causes Separation Anxiety?
One of the most common causes of separation anxiety in infants stems from all the new things that they are learning. They spend most of their time looking at their parents and their home surroundings so when they are someplace new or with someone new, they feel differently and do not know how to deal with this. They will then cry. This type of separation anxiety is mostly caused by fear and will diminish as the child gets older.
Even a child who has gotten over separation anxiety may have relapses. These usually happen during times of stress or a big change such as a new baby in the housing or moving to a new home or even changing schools or day cares. This type will also disappear over time once the child is used to the change.
Sometimes a traumatic event can also cause a child to experience separation anxiety. For instance, a frightening event may happen while the parents are away from the child causing the child to not only worry about his or her safety, but also about the safety of his or her parents. This will cause the child to not want the parents out of his or her sight.
Another potential cause for separation anxiety is simply genetics. Anxiety disorders tend to run in the family so if you have any of these disorders in your family, your child has a higher likelihood of developing a longer term separation anxiety. Sometimes the child also has a chemical imbalance in their brain. This kind of separation anxiety is usually easily treated with medications.
What are some treatments of Separation Anxiety?
If your child is experiencing separation anxiety due to the normal process of going from infant to toddler, then there is really no treatment. The best thing to do in these cases is to assure your child that even if you are not there, you have made sure that they are in a safe environment. Keeping them with you the whole time will not help this situation. It is best to leave them with someone you trust for small periods of time to start and then expand that. Over time your child will become more confident. Also, do not linger when leaving your child. This will portray to your child that you are also unsure about leaving them. Simply say goodbye with a hug and a kiss and leave.
If your child does not overcome the initial separation anxiety that young children typically experience, then further measures may become necessary. Counseling is one of these options. Find a therapist that specializes in children so that they will have the experience, training, and means to better help your child. In extreme cases where the counseling alone does not help, a child may be required to take anti-anxiety medications. Parents may also have to make some changes to their routine to help their child through this.
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The youngest sister of an eighth grader I am working with shows signs of separation anxiety. Last term, I was working with a child who had ADHD. It is amazing how all these “classic” psychological “situations” crop up in the real world.