Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is NOT a common stage of development, but when a child is away from the primary caregiver, it is a severe emotional issue marked by intense distress. However, as normal separation anxiety and separation anxiety disorder share many of the same symptoms, trying to find out whether your child only needs time and patience or has a more serious issue may be frustrating.

The key differences between normal anxiety of separation and anxiety disorder of separation are the strength of the fears of your child, and whether these fears prevent them from normal activities. In order to stop playing with friends or attending school, children with separation anxiety disorder may become upset at just the prospect of being separated from mom or dad, and may complain of illness. These anxieties can add up to a condition when symptoms are severe enough. However, regardless of how fretful your child becomes when separated from you, separation anxiety disorder may be handled. To make your child feel better and ease the fear of separation, there are plenty of things you can do.

Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder

Children with separation anxiety disorder feel constantly anxious about separation or scared. Most children are overwhelmed with symptoms like:

· Fear that something bad is going to happen to a loved one. The concern that harm will come to a loved one in the absence of the child is the most common fear a child with separation anxiety disorder encounters. The child may constantly worry, for example, about a parent being sick or getting injured.

· Worry regarding an unexpected incident leading to irreversible separation. Your child will fear that anything will happen to preserve the separation once it is separated from you. They may worry about being abducted or getting lost, for instance.

· Rejection of going to school. A child may have an irrational fear of school with separation anxiety disorder, and would do almost anything to stay home.

· Reluctance to fall asleep. Owing to the fear of being alone or due to nightmares about separation, separation anxiety disorder may cause children insomniacs.

· Physical illness, such as a headache or stomach ache. Kids with separation anxiety disorders frequently say that they feel sick at the time of separation, or before.

· Clinging to the caregiver. If you attempt to step out, your child will shadow you around the house or cling to your arm or leg.

Common causes of separation anxiety disorder

Separation anxiety disorder develops when, in some way, a child feels vulnerable. Take a look at something that may have thrown off balance the world of your kid, made them feel threatened, or disrupted their daily routine. You'll be one step closer to supporting your child navigate their challenges if you can find the root cause or causes.

Popular causes of children's separation anxiety disorder include:

· Environmental change. Changes in surroundings can cause separation anxiety disorder, such as a new home, school, or day care situation.

· Stress. Stressful circumstances such as school switching, divorce or the loss of a loved one, including a pet, can cause issues of separation anxiety.

· Unsafe attachment. The bond of attachment is the relational connection formed between a child and their primary caretaker. While a secure attachment bond ensures that your child will feel protected, understood and calm enough for optimum growth, an unstable attachment bond may lead to childhood issues such as anxiety of separation.

· A parent that is overprotective. In certain situations, the manifestation of your own stress or anxiety may be separation anxiety disorder. Parents and kids should nurture each other's anxieties.