While separation anxiety disorder can affect people of all ages it is more prominent in children. Children usually exhibit symptoms of separation anxiety disorder when they are separated from familiar surroundings and familiar people. Most children will experience separation anxiety at some point in time but if symptoms become severe they may actually have a disorder that is of more concern than normal separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety disorder is evident in the following events:
Recurring distress when separated from a certain person in their life such as a mother, father, or spouse.
Constant or obsessive worrying about losing the person they are attached to.
Constant worrying about some event that might happen to separate them from the person they are attached to.
Excessive fear about being left alone without the subject of their attachment.
Reluctance about going to sleep unless their attachment is nearby.
Having nightmares about being separated from that person.
There are some children who suffer from separation anxiety disorder that also suffer from attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder.
Separation anxiety is a normal event for children, especially those whose parents must leave them to go to work or when they begin school and are away from their parents. This is not the same as separation anxiety disorder. With separation anxiety disorder the condition becomes obsessive or compulsive. The reaction to certain events is much stronger than normal separation anxiety. The child with separation anxiety disorder may exhibit constant crying, shyness, silence, or an unwillingness to associate with others. Under normal circumstances these symptoms will go away on their own as soon as the child realizes that the situation is a normal part of life. For those who suffer from separation anxiety disorder those symptoms will exacerbate and get worse unless there is some sort of intervention.
There are steps that adults can take to help deal with separation anxiety disorder. Have a babysitter come to your house to get to know the child before you leave the child alone with them. This will allow the babysitter to develop a relationship with the child so that the child does not feel he is being left with a stranger.
Keep the same babysitter instead of changing them constantly. This will allow the child to become comfortable with the babysitter and know what to expect.
In the beginning, only leave the child for short periods of time. You can gradually increase the time each day so that your child has time to adjust.
Keep some of your child’s favorite toys or a familiar blanket with your child when you plan to leave him. This will give him some sense of security because he is familiar with his own things.
Practice the same way to say goodbye each time you must leave your child. If you always kiss your child and tell them you love them before you leave you should keep this same behavior up every day. This way your child will know that when you hug them and tell them you love them you are about to leave them for a while. Assure your child that you will return. Try to not be late picking them up because this could cause them unnecessary anxiety.
Always stay upbeat and never let your child see that you are sad to leave them. Reinforce a positive attitude by telling them how much fun they are going to have while you are gone. If you are sad your child can detect your sadness and this will increase their separation anxiety disorder.
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