Separation Anxiety Disorder In Children

Children often times feel a certain amount of separation anxiety when there parents leave them with another caregiver for a short length of time. It is actually a normal phase in development for a child to learn that the parent will return and to learn to deal with other people and places. Many times after a child has been left a few times they have learned that mom or dad will be back to get them and that life will continue to be okay.

Sometimes, for a variety of different reasons, a child develops a separation anxiety disorder. When the parent leaves the child with another caregiver the child becomes very anxious and is inconsolable. The child remains fearful and distraught until the parent or another trusted person comes to their rescue. Separation anxiety disorders are a real problem for some children and if they are not addressed at a young age can become life long issues which will prevent normal functioning.

Symptoms Of Separation Anxiety Disorders

Along with the anxiety and fearfulness that is displayed with the separation there are several other symptoms of a Separation Anxiety Disorders. Children who have this disorder also often have frequent nightmares involving separation, sadness, depression, with drawl, and apathy. This type of disorder is usually more common in girls than in boys and can lead to extreme fears of death or dying of the family members or the youth themselves.

Treatments For Children With Separation Anxiety Disorders

There are several effective ways to treat children with Separation Anxiety Disorder. One hope is that the child will outgrow the disorder with age and other interests. While this may occur there is a risk in allowing the disorder to go untreated based on hope. If the child does not outgrow the disorder much time will have been wasted and the disorder may have become more of a problem.

One of the easiest ways to treat Separation Anxiety Disorders is for the child to start counseling and therapy. It may take only a small amount of counseling from a psychologist or psychiatrist to help the child deal with the separation anxiety and be able to function normally.

Sometimes with severe Separation Anxiety Disorders the physician will prescribe an anti-anxiety medication. There is some controversy about the use of psychological prescription medications for children but for a very severe disorder this may be the best treatment. Many times the child will only need the medications for a short period of time until the disorder can be brought under control. It is important for the parents to discuss all the options with the physician and get as much information about treatments before making a decision regarding the best course of treatment. One thing for the child and the parent to know is that there is a high rate of remission with Separation Anxiety Disorder as the child ages and becomes more confident and in control.

Social anxiety Is A Very Frightening Experience For The Sufferer

There are a number of events that can lead to social anxiety and these include going on a blind date, meeting the potential in-laws as well as appearing for a job interview. No doubt, it is common to experience a certain amount of nervousness ahead of any of these events; however, when the stress can be so severe as well as very intense that it is not proportionate to the reality of the situation leading perhaps to the person becoming immobilized by fears of being in such situations that it becomes a major cause for worry and may require getting medical counseling.

Continually Perceiving Others To Be Observing You

Social anxiety is a condition in which a person will have a continuing feeling of being observed by others in a manner that causes the sufferer a great deal of embarrassment as well as feeling of humiliation. Such persons will feel crushing fear, and will thus begin to try and avoid such situations fearing potential trouble. Such social anxiety has been known to greatly diminish the quality of life of the sufferer who will no longer be able to experience the simple joys of life.

There are extreme manifestations of social anxiety that will require getting medical attention, for if the condition is not treated in time, it may cause the person to struggle with the result that it becomes unbearable to even eat in the presence of others even in their own homes. It can also lead to using only the bathroom in their own home and no other, and checking for mail only after ensuring that no one else is about.

Such tremendous fear that is felt by the sufferer of social anxiety can lead to their feeling extremely ashamed of themselves, and it may even prevent them from receiving the help that they so badly need. Feeling of isolation, desolation as well as hopelessness is common complaints of those that suffer from social anxiety. It may very often require intervention by a close and dear one to help the unfortunate sufferer, who cannot fend for him or herself.

Social anxiety will also adversely affect the person’s social life as dating, and even friendships are hard to come by, and instead of being pleasurable experiences, can cause more misery. Even a simple act such as crossing a room full of people can give rise to great anxiety, which can lead to the sufferer even going hungry and thirsty, instead of approaching a buffet line.

The good news is that social anxiety can be treated effectively and seeking medical advice as well as treatment is necessary, and along with friends and relatives, a support system can be formed around the sufferer to enable their speedier recovery.

A Social anxiety disorder Condition Is More Than Simply Being Shy And Reticent

When a person feels a lot of fear in the presence of other people it is known as social anxiety disorder that is a condition in which fear is an overriding feature. Being in the presence of others should not normally give rise to such fears though social anxiety disorder sufferers are constantly fearing negative criticism as well as being evaluated by other people at social gatherings, parties as well as in other forms of interactions.

Americans Are Often Afflicted With Anxiety Disorders

Americans in general are greatly afflicted by social anxiety disorders though the intensity may not be as high as is found in cases of panic, obsessive compulsive as well as post-traumatic stress. There is also seen the presence of many phobias as well as other general anxiety disorders. It is also common for social anxiety disorder sufferers to fear being humiliated or embarrassed as well as has reduced adaptive functioning and also signs of clinical distress.

A person with a social anxiety disorder condition will find the mere thought of a social situation triggering immediate as well as intense anxiety reactions, and cause the sufferer to blush as well as may be break out in a sweat. It can also occur as a response to a heightened state in the course of social interactions of which public speaking is a good example.

Social anxiety disorders also have a long-term effect that can cause high psychological impairment and there is indeed a very fine line dividing social anxiety disorders from normally shy and reticent persons, which have often given rise to much controversy as to how to divide these two conditions in a proper manner. It is also seen that a person suffering from social anxiety disorder to be also suffering at the same time from depression, substance abuse as well as contemplating suicide and having other anxiety conditions.

It is also normal for people with social anxiety disorder to be unemployed, underemployed as well as are divorced, and even disabled and are found to be earning less money than the other normal and healthy peers. Social anxiety disorders can often also be misdiagnosed by being mistaken for schizophrenia as well as bi-polar and personality disorders. In addition, social anxiety disorders are known to appear during the teenage years though it may even be present earlier, and are seen to be present more in the case of women than in men, and it may also be hereditary as well.

There are treatments available for this condition though progress made by patients may often be very slow as well as treatment is rather ineffective. One good treatment employed for treating such a condition is using cognitive behavioral therapy that promises much in effectively overcoming this disorder.