What Is  Child Separation Anxiety? 

A child with separation anxiety experiences recurrent anxiety beyond that expected for the child's developmental level.  This anxiety results from separation or fear of impending separation from the child's attachment figure - mother, primary caretaker, or close family member. 

Separation Anxiety Disorder should not be confused with Separation Anxiety, which is a normal stage of development for healthy, secure babies."  Separation anxiety occurs as babies begin to understand their own selfhood - or understand that they are a separate person from their mother or primary caregiver. 

As babies begin to understand that they can be separated from their primary caregiver, they do not understand that their caregiver will return, nor do they have a concept of time.  This results in a normal and healthy anxious reaction.  Separation anxiety typically onsets around 8 months of age and increases until 13-15 months, when it begins to decline.

Studies show that children suffering from separation anxiety disorder are much more likely to have ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and other disorders later in life.

Childhood separation anxiety affects approximately 4% of children.  Believe it or not, adult separation anxiety disorder is actually more common than child separation anxiety.  Adult separation anxiety affects roughly 7% of adults.  Separation anxiety can also occur in dogs.

• Recurring distress when separated from the subject of attachment (usually the mom, dad, or primary caregiver)
• Persistent, excessive worrying about losing the subject of attachment
• Physical illness such as stomach aches or headaches when separated from subject of attachment
• Constant worrying that some event will lead to lengthy separation from a major attachment
• Excessive fear about being alone without subject of attachment
• Persistent reluctance or refusal to go to sleep without being near a major attachment figure
• Recurrent nightmares about separation

   

As a parent of a child with separation anxiety the best initial step you can take is to educate yourself on the condition and learn as much as about it as you can.  Seek out medical professionals who specialize in the condition who can prescribe the right treatment.
 
Treatment of child separation anxiety usually involves one or more forms of psychotherapy.  Therapies used in treating separation anxiety disorder, often employed in combination with each other, include: