Separation anxiety is characterised by the fear of being away from the primary caregiver. Children act out their fears of separation through clinging and tantrums. This is a healthy and normal part of a child’s development (between the ages of 8 and 14 months).
SAD (separation anxiety disorder) is a psychological diagnosis for children who fall outside of this otherwise normal development stage. Let’s explore this condition and the symptoms surrounding it.
What is Separation Anxiety in Psychology?
As we mentioned above, it is when someone is afraid of being separated from a particular person, persons, or even a pet, and manifests in different symptoms. This condition often occurs in children younger than 2 years old. Children this age still do not understand that when a parent goes away, they are just coming back.
Most people associate this condition with children, but adults can experience it as well. In adults, they develop extreme anxiety as a result of a separation, which they may have experienced as a child. Still, some may experience anxiety only in adulthood.
Normal Separation Anxiety versus Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
The main difference between separation anxiety disorder and normal anxiety as a result of separation is the intensity of the individual’s fears. With separation anxiety disorder, these fears often keep a person from their normal daily activities. As in the case of children suffering from the disorder, they may become too agitated at the thought of being away from either of their parents and complain of sickness to avoid attending school or playing with friends.
Anxiety disorder as a result of separation is not a normal stage of development. It is a serious emotional problem that often manifests as extreme distress, especially when a child is away from either parent. While separation anxiety disorder and normal anxiety of separation share many symptoms, it can be confusing to figure out if a child needs time or has a more serious emotional problem.
Normal anxieties can add up to a disorder when the symptoms are extreme enough. But there is good news for parents whose child becomes so fretful when parted from them. This condition is treatable, and there are plenty of things parents can do to make their child feel safer and ease their anxiety.
What are the Signs of Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?
Children with this disorder feel constantly fearful or worried about separation from their primary caregiver. They are often overwhelmed with symptoms like:
Clinging to the caregiver
Children may either shadow their primary caregiver around the house or cling to their arm or leg if they attempt to step out.
Physical sickness
Children with SAD often complain of physical sicknesses like a headache or stomach pain before or at the time of separation.
Refusal to go to sleep
This condition often makes children suffer insomnia. Because of the fear of being alone or having nightmares about separation, children boldly refuse to go to sleep.
Reluctance to go to school
Apart from refusing to go to sleep, children with this disorder are also likely to be reluctant about going to school. They develop this unreasonable fear of school at the thought of being separated from their primary caregiver. As such, they will do almost anything to stay home.
Excessive worry
Kids also show an excessive worry that an unpredicted event will lead to permanent separation from their caregiver. They may fear that once they are separated from either parent, something will happen to keep them away forever. For example, they may have excessive worry about getting lost or being kidnapped.
They also might develop a strong fear that something terrible will happen to a loved one. Kids with SAD often worry about a parent getting hurt or becoming sick in their absence. This is the most common fear among children with this condition.
What are the Most Common Causes of SAD?
Children with anxiety disorder as a result of separation may have felt unsafe in some way at some point. Something may have upset their normal routine or thrown their world off balance, making them feel threatened. You’ll be one step closer to helping your child through their struggles if you can pinpoint the root cause of their anxiety.
Here are the most common causes of SAD in children:
Insecure attachment
In psychology, attachment bond refers to the emotional connection formed between an infant and their primary caregiver. A secure attachment bond ensures that a child will feel calm, understood, and secure enough for optimal development. An insecure attachment bond, on the other hand, often contributes to anxiety.
Stress
Accidents, loss of a loved one (including a pet), divorce, and other stressful situations trigger anxiety problems in children and adults alike.
Change in surroundings
Changes in the environment (like moving to a new house or switching schools) can also trigger this anxiety disorder.
Overprotective parents
A child’s anxiety disorder may also be the manifestation of their parent’s own stress or anxiety.
Helping You Ease Stress and Anxiety
Professional intervention can go a long way toward helping individuals ease their stress, anxiety, grief and loss, or panic disorder. If you are seeking help for your child or other loved ones going through anxiety, Sunshine Coast Clinical Psychology is here to help.
Providing individual therapy sessions, we are committed to providing quality and comprehensive mental health services to anyone who needs it. If you are anywhere on the Sunshine Coast, get in touch with us to get started.