What to do about separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety disorder is a common disease that occurs in childhood. Generally, separation from family members will lead to fear, or even inner terror, so patients will show nausea and vomiting, or even constant crying and temper tantrums. Generally, this situation can be resolved through the company of family members and the counseling of a psychologist.

Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Separation anxiety is age-inappropriate, excessive, and behaviorally impairing anxiety that occurs when one is separated from an attachment figure. It is one of the most common emotional disorders in preschool children. It mostly occurs before the age of 6. Its characteristics are excessive anxiety when separated from relatives or leaving familiar environment, worrying about relatives getting into accidents or being abducted; worrying about separation from parents or other attachment figures; not willing to go to school or kindergarten for fear of separation; persistent and inappropriate fear of being alone. When separation from attachment figures is expected, excessive and recurrent distress will be immediately shown, such as crying, temper tantrums, indifference or social withdrawal. Some patients even show some physical symptoms: nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, general discomfort, etc. The anxiety of such children is more severe than the normal children's emotional response to separation, and their social functions will also be significantly affected.

Separation anxiety is the most common anxiety disorder in children, with a prevalence of approximately 10%. It is also the anxiety disorder in children with the youngest incidence and the youngest age at which treatment begins.

Cause

1. The impact of sudden environmental changes: Environmental changes bring them a lot of anxiety and tension. They cannot vent their nervousness at school, so they have to vent their nervousness after returning home.

2. Being too attached to parents: Children with separation anxiety usually stay with their parents, especially their mothers. A mother's excessive protection and care for her child may also cause the child to develop bad habits such as timidity, shyness, and strong dependence. Once separated from the mother suddenly, separation anxiety is inevitable.

3. Inheritance of parental anxiety: Studies have found that if parents suffer from anxiety disorders, their children are significantly more likely to develop anxiety disorders.

4. Fear syndrome: This is a manifestation of a child’s poor social skills: timid children are highly dependent, cannot make friends with children around them, and have poor adaptability. They will regard unfamiliar places as the home of "Grandma Wolf" and be filled with fear.