Separation Anxiety
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Transcript of Separation Anxiety
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Separation Anxiety
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Overview
Separation anxiety is a developmental stage
during which the child experiences anxiety when
separated from the primary caregiver (usually the mother).
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Overview
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001542.htm
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Causes
As infants develop, they experience various
emotions, usually in a predictable order. Before 8 months, infants are so new
to the world that they have little knowledge of what is ordinary and what may
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Causes
be dangerous, so new situations or experiences seem usual, and not frightening.
In normal development, during this early
period the infant becomes familiar with the home environment, and feels
comfortable when parents or other known caretakers are present. After this
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Causes
time, lack of familiarity often produces fear because the infant recognizes
that something unusual is going on.
From 8 - 14 months, children often become
frightened when they meet new people or visit new places. They recognize their
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Causes
parents as familiar and safe. When separated from their parents, particularly
when away from home, they feel threatened and unsafe.
Separation anxiety is a normal
developmental stage. It helped keep our ancestors alive and helps children
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Causes
learn how to master their environment.
It usually ends when the child is around 2
years old. At this age, toddlers begin to understand that parents may be out of
sight now, but will return later. There is also a normal desire to test their
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Causes
independence.
To get over separation anxiety, children
must:
-- Feel safe in their home environment
-- Trust people other than their parents
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Causes
-- Trust that their parents will return
Even after children have successfully
mastered this developmental stage, separation anxiety may return during periods
of stress. Most children will experience some degree of separation anxiety when
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Causes
in unfamiliar situations, especially when separated from their parents.
When children are in situations (such as
hospitals) and are experiencing stress (such as illness or pain), they seek the
safety, comfort, and protection of their parents. When parents cannot be with
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Causes
their children in these situations, the children experience distress.
This is why it is important to stay with
your child as much as is possible during any medical procedures. Your presence
can actually reduce the amount of pain the child experiences, as anxiety of any
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Causes
kind makes pain worse.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001542.htm
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Symptoms
-- Excessive distress when separated from the
primary caregiver
-- Nightmares
-- Reluctance to go to school or other places
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Symptoms
because of fear of separation
-- Reluctance to go to sleep without the
primary caregiver nearby
-- Repeated physical complaints
-- Worry about losing or harm coming to the
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Symptoms
primary caregiver
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001542.htm
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Treatment
No treatment is necessary for ordinary
separation anxiety.
Parents can help their infant or toddler
learn to adjust to their absence by letting trusted caregivers babysit the
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Treatment
child. This helps the child learn to trust and bond with other adults and
understand that their parents will return.
If medical procedures are needed while a
child is in this stage, it is helpful for a parent to go with the child
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Treatment
whenever possible. When a parent cannot come with the child, exposing the child
to the situation beforehand is helpful; for example, visiting the doctor's
office before a test. When this is not possible, the child may display severe
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Treatment
anxiety by crying, resisting treatment, begging, and screaming.
Some hospitals provide Child Life
specialists who can explain procedures and medical conditions to children of
all ages. If your child is particularly anxious and needs significant medical
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Treatment
care, it may help to ask your health care provider about such services.
When separation from parents is necessary,
but exposing the child to it beforehand is not possible (such as for surgical
treatment), many physicians will recommend the child take mild sedating or
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Treatment
tranquilizing medications to help reduce the trauma.
Explain the situation and experience to the
child and assure him or her that a parent is waiting, and specifically, where
the parent is waiting.
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Treatment
For older children who have not outgrown
separation anxiety within the normal developmental timetable or who have
regressed to it under stress, effective treatments may include:
-- Anti-anxiety medications
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Treatment
-- Changes in parenting techniques
-- Counseling for the parents and child
-- Treatment for severe cases may include:
-- Family education
-- Family therapy
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Treatment
-- Individual psychotherapy
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001542.htm