girl, staying indoors, indoors
Baby,  Kids,  Parenting,  Uncategorized

Separation Anxiety in Children. A growth spurt or a disorder?

May 13, 2021 / Comments Off on Separation Anxiety in Children. A growth spurt or a disorder?
Post image

Difference between “normal” separation anxiety and a disorder.

How to know separation anxiety is more than just a worry and what to do to help our worried children cope with their anxieties? 

It’s reasonable for young children to not want to be too far from us. Survival instincts inform our little ones that too much time or distance between them and us is an unsafe thing. The intensity of this ‘normal anxiety’ varies depending on the child’s temperament and how their caregivers responsive to the need for comfort and intimacy.

Separation Anxiety Disorder is a different story. It mostly occurs later, causes more upset, and impacts the child’s functioning. The anxiety is simply too much. Instead of assisting to protect the child, it impairs and distresses. 

Psychiatrists describe Separation Anxiety Disorder as developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or from primary caregivers if three or more of these is checked:

  • repetitive, excessive distress when separation from home or primary caregivers is expected
  • persistent and excessive worry about losing caregivers or about possible harm coming to them
  • persistent and excessive worry that an unfortunate event will lead to separation from a primary caregiver (like getting lost)
  • persistent hesitation or refusal to go anywhere because of these separation fears
  • persistently and extremely fearful or hesitant to be alone or without significant ones at home or in other settings
  • refusal or persistent reluctance to go to sleep without being near a primary caregiver or to sleep away from home
  • recurred nightmares involving separation themes
  • when separation from a primary caregiver occurs, recurred complaints of headaches, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, etc.,

According to Dr. Kaylene Henderson, these symptoms must last for at least a month and cause impairment of functioning and significant distress to be considered a disorder. While it can happen earlier, the most common age is 7-8-year-olds. 

Why does it happen in some kids? The causes are many and varied, like in most mental health issues. 

Factors that might contribute: shy inhibited temperament, genetic vulnerability to anxiety, parental divorce, a recent death in the family, or illness. 

The presentation of separation anxiety disorder varies: school refusal, hesitation in going to school camps or friends’ houses without a parent, insisting on sharing their parent’s bed, nightmares, or following family members around the house. Some kids will become tearful when separated from their parents; others will get tantrums, become aggressive, nervous.

WHAT IF YOUR KID BELONGS TO THE SECOND “TEAM”:

Ask your child’s General Practitioner for an assessment, who can then refer to a Child Psychiatrist or Psychologist, depending on your child’s needs. As with any health issue, the earlier that intervention is sought, the quicker recovery will occur.