What is Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Separation anxiety occurs when a child experiences distress following separation from their parents or caregivers. Separation anxiety is a natural and common fear that children develop around 8 months and can continue to 4 years of age. However, if the anxiety begins to interfere with school, peer relationships and other activities, your child may have separation anxiety disorder.
What are some of the symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder?
- Fear concerning separation from a parent
- Excessive worry about losing parents or attachment figures to illness, injury, or disasters
- Persistent reluctance to go out, away from home, to school, or where separation can occur
- Repeated nightmares involving separation
- Repeated complaints of physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach-aches and nausea
How can a psychologist help?
If you feel that your child may be experiencing anxiety, separation or otherwise, know that help is available. A trained psychologist is able to work with you and your child in establishing new strategies and techniques to help better manage these feelings and behaviours. To start working towards both you and your child being able to enjoying life to the fullest, book an Emotional Health Check Up today.
