| It is normal for children to experience some degree | | | | witnessing or hearing about a traumatic event. These |
| of separation anxiety during the first few years of | | | | events may include such things as an earthquake or |
| their life until they are able to realize the fact that | | | | other natural disaster, child abduction, stresses in the |
| the people they have become attached to such as | | | | family such as a death or divorce, and any significant |
| their parent or caregiver upon leaving them will in fact | | | | changes in the family structure. |
| return and has not "disappeared" or left them | | | | Children of close-knit families are also at a higher risk |
| forever. | | | | for developing separation anxiety as are children who |
| Separation anxiety is most common among preschool | | | | show excessive fear and withdraw from unfamiliar or |
| age children when the primary caregiver or parent | | | | new situations. |
| leave and the anxiety is usually temporary as the | | | | Symptoms and Treatment |
| child can typically be distracted by other children or | | | | When a child is suffering from a separation, there are |
| activities. | | | | a number of different physical and emotional |
| By the age of five, most children no longer have | | | | symptoms that may be displayed that include having |
| such a strong fear of separation and are able to be | | | | a stomachache or headache especially when they |
| dropped of at school or daycare without distress. | | | | anticipate a separation from a parent or caregiver. |
| However, if a child exhibits severe emotional distress | | | | Other symptoms include the fear of their parents |
| or excessive fear after the age of five when | | | | being out of their sight which causes them to "cling" |
| separated from close family members or caregivers, | | | | to the parent's side and persistently request sleeping |
| this may be a sign of a separation anxiety disorder. | | | | in bed with them. |
| Separation Anxiety Disorder and its Potential Causes | | | | They may also experience nightmares in which they |
| It is estimated that about four percent of children | | | | have been abandoned or separated from their |
| between the ages of six and twelve suffer from a | | | | parents. Excessive fear or panic in anticipation of |
| separation anxiety disorder. This disorder is defined | | | | having to leave their home and a refusal to go to |
| as an excessive or extreme fear when being | | | | school or any other event that would take them |
| separated from family members - particularly parents | | | | away from home are also signs of separation |
| - that is age-inappropriate. | | | | anxiety. |
| Children with separation anxiety have a fear that that | | | | When it comes to the treatment of a separation |
| they may never see their parent or caregiver again | | | | anxiety, involvement of the parents is essential and |
| because they will become lost themselves or that | | | | should begin with educating themselves as much as |
| something bad will happen to the family member. This | | | | possible about this disorder and obtaining advice from |
| unwillingness for separation often causes isolation | | | | a professional in the field of childhood anxiety |
| from other children, a high rate of absence from | | | | disorders. In severe cases therapy may be |
| school, and underperforming academically. | | | | recommended which can include "CBT" or "cognitive |
| In some cases the cause of separation anxiety | | | | behavioral therapy", family therapy, play therapy, or |
| disorder may be due to the child experiencing, | | | | bibliotherapy. |