Separation anxiety disorder is a form of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive anxiety when the closest person is left, for example, parents. This condition usually occurs in children and needs to be treated because it can interfere with their activities, including at school. Anxiety or fear when left by parents is actually one of the normal stages of development experienced by infants and toddlers. This condition usually occurs since the baby is 8 months old and will disappear on its own with age.
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| Separation Anxiety Disorder, Feelings of Anxiety When Separated from Closest Persons |
By the time they are 2 years old, children generally understand that their parents will only leave them for a while and will return so that the anxiety that arises will be controlled. However, anxiety in children when their parents leave them can occur excessively or even last a long time. If so, the child may have separation anxiety disorder (SAD).
Causes of Separation Anxiety Disorder
There are several factors that can increase the risk of a child experiencing separation anxiety disorder, namely:
- Death in the family
- Parents divorce
- Major life changes, such as moving house or school
- Shy personality
- Low socioeconomic status
- Parents are overprotective
- Lack of interaction with parents
Signs of Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children with separation anxiety disorder always feel excessive anxiety and fear when they have to be separated from those closest to them, such as parents or even caregivers.
Apart from feeling anxious, there are several signs that indicate a child is experiencing separation anxiety disorder, namely:
- Crying when separated from parents or caregivers even if only briefly
- Tantrums or tantrums
- Refuse to go to school
- Decreased performance in school
- Avoids or does not want to interact with other children
- Feeling scared or not wanting to sleep alone
- Bedwetting or enuresis
- Having nightmares related to family
- Pretending to be sick, such as a headache or stomachache, when you have to separate from your parents
How to Overcome Separation Anxiety Disorder
The treatment method that can be done to overcome separation anxiety disorder is to do psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy will teach children to learn to manage their fear of temporary separation from their parents or caregivers.
Apart from cognitive behavioral therapy, parent-child interaction therapy can also be done to help children overcome separation anxiety disorder. This type of therapy generally has three main phases, namely:
- Child-directed interaction (CDI), which focuses on improving the quality of the relationship between parents and children, such as involving attention and praise
- Bravery-directed interaction (BDI), to educate parents on the reasons why children feel excessive anxiety, especially when their parents leave them
- Parent-directed interaction (PDI), aims to educate parents so that they can communicate more clearly and well with their children
Apart from undergoing psychotherapy, support from the school environment and good friends can also help children to overcome separation anxiety disorder. As a parent, you can ask the teacher for help to be able to encourage children to interact with other friends.
That way, the anxiety they experience can be reduced because they have found a comfortable and safe place when they are not with their parents.
However, if the disorder is not getting better with psychotherapy, the doctor will give antidepressants to relieve the symptoms of separation anxiety disorder.
With support from parents and appropriate therapy, children with separation anxiety disorder can act independently according to their age and don't feel anxious anymore when they have to be left by the people closest to them.
Therefore, if your child is suspected of having separation anxiety disorder or even showing signs as described above, don't hesitate to consult a psychologist to get treatment.
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