Download Separation Anxiety

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Separation Anxiety
 What is separation Anxiety?
 What age is this most common in?
 About what percentage of all
school children experience
separation anxiety?
Separation Anxiety
• Separation anxiety disorder is a medical
condition that is characterized by significant
distress when a person is away from parents,
another caregiver, or home.
• Separation anxiety is most common between
the ages of 5-7 and 11-14 - when kids have to
deal with new challenges in elementary and
middle school.
• Separation anxiety occurs in about 10-15% of all
school aged children at some time and some
degree
Separation Anxiety
• Healthy separation anxiety is
typically first seen around 8-10
months. Often called stranger
anxiety
• Children also may become mildly
anxious around 18-24 months when
they are starting to explore the
world more yet wanting the security
of caregiver.
Separation Anxiety
What are the symptoms of
separation anxiety?
Separation Anxiety
 Symptoms of separation anxiety include:
• Stomach aches
• Headaches
• Shakiness or trembling
• Rapid Heart rate
• Sweating
• Revved up respiration
Separation Anxiety
 Symptoms of separation anxiety cont.
• Excessive worry that something bad will happen
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•
•
•
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to their parents or themselves
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Tantrums
Clinging
Refusing to be left alone
Separation Anxiety
 At home other symptoms may be seen:
• Refusal or reluctance to participate in ordinary
outings or activities
• Difficulty sleeping alone
• Scary dreams about being separated
Separation Anxiety
 At school other symptoms may be seen:
• Avoidance of activities
• Low Self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating
• Learning disorders and cognitive problems which
are often overlooked
• Behavioral or cognitive effects from medication
Separation Anxiety
Children may certainly not
exhibit all of the symptoms.
They will not complain about
being anxious, but instead say
“My stomach hurts” or “I have a
headache.”
Separation Anxiety
 First day jitters are normal.
 Particular traits and temperaments
make some children more prone to
having separation anxiety. What
might some of these traits and
temperaments be?
Separation Anxiety
What causes separation
anxiety?
Separation Anxiety
 Sensitive children are more
prone to separation anxiety or
anxiety in general
 Parent in the household with
anxiety increases child’s chances
of developing separation anxiety
Separation Anxiety
 First day of school – child is stressed
 Stomach ache, headache occurs after being alone at
school
 Day two child remembers the feelings from the
previous day and starts to anticipate the feelings
happening again.
 This results in anxiety forming around the act of
going to school
Separation Anxiety
How long does separation
anxiety last?
Separation Anxiety
 Most children do adjust
eventually.
 Depends on the child
 Kids learn from parents
 If parents are late …
Separation Anxiety
 Rule of thumb:
• If the child is not adjusting within a
month of starting school, seek help
• Assistance from teacher or
guidance counselor to help team up
and calm the child
Separation Anxiety
 How do you treat
separation anxiety??
Separation Anxiety
 For Parents:
• Encourage independence early
• Learn to calm yourself
• Explain what is happening to the
child
• Teach children how to calm
themselves
Separation Anxiety
 Psychological Interventions
• Counseling can help children and caregivers
understand the cause of symptoms as opposed to
being seen as having a flawed attitude or
personality.
• Counseling can reduce the impact of symptoms
on daily life.
• Help parents with specific needs for a child
Separation Anxiety
 Individual psychotherapy
• Generally recommended as the first line of treatment
• Can help reduce symptoms and allow children to express
feelings as well as to allow caregivers the chance to express
feelings of self-blame
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
• Can teach young people new skills to reduce anxiety when
separating from a caregiver
• In CBT the child is helped to become aware of and to
describe negative thoughts, feelings or reactions.
• The clinician guides the child to think of new, more
positive alternatives.
Separation Anxiety
Parent Guidance Sessions
Can help parents to manage their child’s illness, identify effective
parenting skills, learn how to function as a family despite the illness, and
to address feelings that arise when raising a child with the disorder.
Group Psychotherapy
Provides a safe place to talk with other kids who have the same issues
School-based counseling
Provides guidance on how to navigate the social, behavioral, and
academic demands of the school setting
Separation Anxiety
 Biological Interventions
(Medication)
 Antidepressants