Separation Anxiety in Adults is becoming a hot topic nowadays. Anxiety is something that interferes with your daily life and hurts your relationships and work. Originally, anxiety was not so well known. But in this era, everywhere across the world, people are complaining about having one or more kinds of anxiety disorders.
In this article, we will discuss one of the most affecting types of anxiety, i.e., separation anxiety, and after that, its symptoms, causes, risk factors, and how you can treat it.
What is Separation Anxiety?
You might have seen that children start crying when you walk away from them. That is what we call separation anxiety.
- It is a type of anxiety in which the person feels fear or dread when someone close to them leaves.
- They always have a feeling of losing someone or that their loved one is going to face a bad situation.
- This anxiety is not limited to children. Nowadays, 0.9–1.9% of adults are suffering from separation anxiety. Some studies have even shown that the impact of this anxiety has affected up to 6.6% of adults.
Until toddlerhood and childhood, this separation anxiety disorder is a common thing, but if it lasts until adulthood, it becomes something you need to deal with.
How Does Separation Anxiety in Adults Differ from that in Children?
When we talk about toddlers or children at an early age, we can say that separation anxiety is a routine part of their development.
You can find this anxiety in children of any age from 6 months to 3 years, sometimes even until 7 years. It is also important for them, as they cannot survive if their guardians neglect their proper care.
So, it is not appropriate to call it a serious disorder that needs treatment.
Normally, when children reach 2 years of age, they start to develop the understanding that their parents will return to them after a while.
However, if this separation anxiety is seen in adults above age 7, it becomes a disorder that you should find a treatment for.
Separation anxiety affects the children as they throw tantrums or start crying when they are separated. On the other hand, in adults, this anxiety causes a little more internalized and extreme results.
Adults suffering from separation anxiety, when separated from their close people, may start to sweat, tremble, and even have panic attacks. It is important as if left untreated, it can have harmful effects on one’s daily life.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
For every disease, symptoms are given to help you find out if you are struck with the disorder or not. Similar is the case with separation anxiety disorder;
Anxiety Disorder: Types Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatments
however, its symptoms are classified into different categories. Given are the common symptoms found in people encountering this disorder:
Behavioral Symptoms
- Extreme jealousy
- Reluctance to seek a promotion or to apply for a job
- Avoid participation in new activities
- Unable to spend time alone
- Using sick time from work excessively
- Social withdrawal or refraining from going to events without a loved one
- Excessive and meaningless “what if” thoughts
Emotional Symptoms
- Embarrassment
- Anxiety/fear/worry
- Sadness
- Anger
- Helplessness
- Shame
Physical Symptoms
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trembling and shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia (lack of sleep)
- Rapid heartbeat
- Bed-wetting
How Do you Know you have a Disorder of Separation Anxiety?
It is completely normal to have or show a sincere concern for your loved ones. Caring for someone should not be mixed with separation anxiety.
You may also feel bad or face a little anxiety when you walk away from your parents, close friends, and relatives, or especially when you hear about the death of a close person.
For instance, if you live away from your family for a short period, such as by going on a vacation or work tour, you might experience mild anxiety or fear.
This is your body’s natural response known as the fight-flight-freeze system, which is responsible for protecting you from any danger or threat and, hence, can be sometimes useful.
This mild anxiety also disappears on its own when you repeatedly go through similar situations.
What are the Causes of Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety disorder usually runs through families. If you have this anxiety, it might be possible that someone from your ancestors or relatives already has this disorder.
On the other hand, some behavioral and environmental factors can also serve as causes, including:
- School changing
- Childhood trauma
- Alcoholic parents
- Separation or divorce of parents
- Attachment style
- Adoption or foster care
- Relocation or geographic move
- Death in the family
- Parental anxiety diagnosis
- Absence of parents
How Can You Treat Separation Anxiety Disorder?
In adults, you can treat separation anxiety with support and treatments. Some famous treatments applied in the case of separation anxiety disorders are as follows:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): It is a psychotherapy that aids people in identifying and challenging the factors responsible for separation anxiety, including negative behaviors and thoughts.
- Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications: These medications can also play a significant role in reducing the symptoms of separation anxiety disorders.
- Healthy Lifestyle: One of the most important and promising things that can bring change to an affected person’s life is their lifestyle. When you eat a healthy diet, stay fresh, perform exercise and relaxation techniques, keep yourself engaged with the activities you perish, and surround yourself with people you feel comfortable and pleasant with, you can overcome not only separation anxiety disorder but other types of anxiety disorders as well.
To overcome this spreading disorder, people have created organizations and charities that are specifically designed to offer support, help, and advice to those suffering. Some of the popular ones are:
- Mind
- Anxiety UK
- Support Line
- No Panic
Risk factors of Separation Anxiety Disorders
According to a journal, people with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) are more likely to develop separation anxiety disorder.
Also, if you are already suffering from another kind of anxiety disorder, or, simply, phobias, there are chances that you will fall prey to this disorder.
Furthermore, some of the risk factors leading to the onset of separation anxiety disorder are:
- Panic disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Social anxiety disorder
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Conclusion
It is completely normal to have mild separation anxiety. Everyone wants their loved ones to stay close to them. When they leave, we have an unpleasant feeling, and we even cry at some moments.
It is also important for your relationships, as your concern for each other brings people closer. But if this anxiety goes off the limits and causes you to sweat and face panic attacks, at this stage, this anxiety should not be overlooked at any cost.
Separation anxiety disorder can ruin one’s life completely as if it raises the level of terror and fear in him. The affected person no longer remains able to cope with his daily life, work, and relationships.
Therefore, whenever you encounter the above-mentioned symptoms, you need to see a healthcare provider. Consulting a psychologist is nothing to be ashamed of in this era when it comes to threatening situations like anxiety disorders. To sum up, remember, you deserve to live a healthy and productive life!
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