1:0 Separation Anxiety:
Most of us can recall a childhood incident or nightmare where we suddenly realized we had become separated from a parent or parents and could not find them. Memories of that terror of feeling lost and alone, and the enormous sense of relief at finding them again, stay with us long after the event. For a short while afterwards we were probably anxious about getting lost again and stayed a bit closer than usual to our parents until the incident faded away. It is normal for all children to experience some anxiety when they are away from their parents. This is called separation anxiety and it is a protective mechanism which slowly disappear as children grow older. Some degree of separation anxiety is normal even in adults. We usually call it homesickness.
2:0 Separation Anxiety Disorder:
Some children experience feeling of fear and high anxiety constantly. For them, every minute of the day is filled with the terrible possibility that they might be separated from their families or loved ones. Children who show such extreme anxious behaviour may have separation anxiety disorder.
Separation anxiety disorder is one of the most common of the childhood emotional disorders with as many as nine percent of children experiencing it at some stage. Girls experience separation anxiety almost twice as commonly as boys do, perhaps because boys are encouraged to act bravely and often try to cover their fears with aggressive behaviour.
In its most severe forms, separation anxiety can stop children from doing the things they enjoy. It can make them fall behind with their schoolwork as they find it impossible to face going to school.
3:0 Causes of separation anxiety disorder:-
It can be triggered by a major life stress or an actual separation or loss. Separation or divorce of parents or the death of a grandparent is distressing for children and they may fear that others in their lives will also disappear or die.
There may be a biological tendency towards anxiety which runs in families. Some studies of identical twins, who share the same genetic makeup, show that a child may inherit an excitable nervous system. If a parent has a similar makeup, the home atmosphere may be more anxious than is usual.
4:0 Important Strategies to support recovery:
· Take care that the child does not witness violent family rows or hear one partner threatening the other with leaving home. Frustrated parents sometimes use threats such as “I’ll put you in a foster home.” Or “One of these days I’ll go away.” These threats will obviously increase children’s anxiety, make them feel guilty and are likely to affect their behaviour.
· Establish and maintain appropriate parent-child boundaries. Sometimes, anxious parents ask their children if they love them or discuss adult business with them.
· Ask the doctor for a referral to a qualified professional working with children’s mental health issues. Although parents and caregivers know their child best, they may unknowingly do things which make matters worse. For example, applying for correspondence lessons because the child refuses to go to school may not be a good idea in many cases.
Most of us can recall a childhood incident or nightmare where we suddenly realized we had become separated from a parent or parents and could not find them. Memories of that terror of feeling lost and alone, and the enormous sense of relief at finding them again, stay with us long after the event. For a short while afterwards we were probably anxious about getting lost again and stayed a bit closer than usual to our parents until the incident faded away. It is normal for all children to experience some anxiety when they are away from their parents. This is called separation anxiety and it is a protective mechanism which slowly disappear as children grow older. Some degree of separation anxiety is normal even in adults. We usually call it homesickness.
2:0 Separation Anxiety Disorder:
Some children experience feeling of fear and high anxiety constantly. For them, every minute of the day is filled with the terrible possibility that they might be separated from their families or loved ones. Children who show such extreme anxious behaviour may have separation anxiety disorder.
Separation anxiety disorder is one of the most common of the childhood emotional disorders with as many as nine percent of children experiencing it at some stage. Girls experience separation anxiety almost twice as commonly as boys do, perhaps because boys are encouraged to act bravely and often try to cover their fears with aggressive behaviour.
In its most severe forms, separation anxiety can stop children from doing the things they enjoy. It can make them fall behind with their schoolwork as they find it impossible to face going to school.
3:0 Causes of separation anxiety disorder:-
It can be triggered by a major life stress or an actual separation or loss. Separation or divorce of parents or the death of a grandparent is distressing for children and they may fear that others in their lives will also disappear or die.
There may be a biological tendency towards anxiety which runs in families. Some studies of identical twins, who share the same genetic makeup, show that a child may inherit an excitable nervous system. If a parent has a similar makeup, the home atmosphere may be more anxious than is usual.
4:0 Important Strategies to support recovery:
· Take care that the child does not witness violent family rows or hear one partner threatening the other with leaving home. Frustrated parents sometimes use threats such as “I’ll put you in a foster home.” Or “One of these days I’ll go away.” These threats will obviously increase children’s anxiety, make them feel guilty and are likely to affect their behaviour.
· Establish and maintain appropriate parent-child boundaries. Sometimes, anxious parents ask their children if they love them or discuss adult business with them.
· Ask the doctor for a referral to a qualified professional working with children’s mental health issues. Although parents and caregivers know their child best, they may unknowingly do things which make matters worse. For example, applying for correspondence lessons because the child refuses to go to school may not be a good idea in many cases.
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