Separation Anxiety - Separation Anxiety In Children And Adolescents

The mental disorder called separation anxiety basically develops as a result of matters concerning separation from one's home, belongings or separation from the people to whom an individual is attached. Usually the problem occurring in children or adolescents is, before or at the age of 18, lasting a month or so, this disorder is responsible for causing substantial distress leading to social, academic or occupational impairment.

This condition is mainly marked by excessive brooding, persistent worry about losing or constantly fear of harm befalling a loved one, and a continuous fear or reluctance to be alone. Occurrence of severe nightmares showing separation from loved ones or family, along with repeated complaints of physical disorders such as headache, stomachache, nausea or vomiting are all symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder.

Separation Anxiety mental disorder can also continue from childhood to adulthood. The only change in the adult people is that, during the later stages, it may culminate into a Panic or fear disorder or Agoraphobia or both.

These sort of mental disorders are caused due to many factors such as an abnormality in the part of the brain which helps it recognize the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood, fooling it to believe that the amount of oxygen that the brain is getting is not enough. This condition leads to an adrenaline rush, which thereby leads to all these symptoms. These mental disorders can also be inherited, which means some people have them in their genes. Parents with alcohol or drugs related problems can also make the child more vulnerable to this disorder.

The best way to deal with this anxiety related mental disorder is to give the child medical attention along with some psychological treatment. People should gradually be exposed to the outer world and should be encouraged to mingle with the children of the same age. They should also be counseled properly to adopt a positive attitude and eliminate bad thoughts that worsen the attacks. Besides al these, people must be taught certain relaxation as well as breathing exercises to calm themselves, whenever they feel uneasy. These therapeutic techniques, along with tranquilizers and anti-depressants taken in a regulated manner and under professional supervision, can help in getting over this disorder. Children adapt pretty good to other caregivers. Parents probably feel more worry about being separated than infants do! As long as their specific needs are being met, most babies younger than 6 months adjust easily to other people.

Sometime children between 4-7 months, babies develop a sense of object permanence and begin to learn that things and people exist even when they are out of sight. This is when children start playing the dropsy game; dropping things over the side of the high chair and expecting an adult to retrieve it. The same thing often occurs with a parent. Children realize that there is only mom or dad, and when they can not see them, that mean they have gone away. And most do not yet understand the concept of time so does not know if or when they will come back.

• Janny Raines
• 16/02/2009, 6:59 PM
• 0 Comments