Separation Anxiety Disorder
Also known as: separation anxiety, phobia.
What is separation anxiety disorder?
Separation anxiety is normal in the very young child (particularly between 8 and 14 months of age). When this fear, anxiousness or distress when not being with a parent or caregiver occurs in children over the age of 6 years, and lasts longer than 4 weeks, the child may suffer from separation anxiety disorder. It affects approximately 4% of children ages 7-11 years of age.
What causes separation anxiety disorder?
Life changes such as death, divorce, changing schools and other major events can lead to separation anxiety disorder. It also appears to run in families particularly where parents are overly anxious or overprotective (or have family members with anxiety or other mental problems).
What are the symptoms of separation anxiety disorder?
Common symptoms include a lasting and unrealistic worry that something bad is going to happen to the child or parent/caregiver if the child leaves. Refusal to sleep away from home or away from parent/caregiver, nightmares about being separated, bed wetting, or pleading/tantrums when needing to go to school or physical symptoms like headaches, or stomach aches on school days.
What are separation anxiety disorder care options?
If severe (mild cases may not need medical treatment) treatment options include psychotherapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, and antidepressant and/or anti-anxiety medications.
Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP
This page was last updated on: November 20, 2019 02:37 PM
Weekly Support Programs
F.O.C.U.S. Program
This group therapy program is designed for children ages 7 to 17 with behavioral issues, including but not limited to ADHD. The weekly sessions teach innovative techniques to assist children with managing feelings, developing organization skills, maximizing their concentration abilities and socialization skills.
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Mosaico Therapy Group
This six-week group therapy program is designed for teens who have symptoms of depression, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal challenges.
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Calm Kids
8 week program. Calm Kids is a weekly group therapy course designed to teach children strategies on how to take control over anxiety symptoms. Children will learn how to cope with fears and worries, identify anxiety triggers, how to relax the mind and body and maximize their self-confidence.
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Teen Sleep Group
The six-week program is designed for teens ages 12 to 17 experiencing difficulties related to sleep, including daytime sleepiness, trouble waking in the morning, difficulty falling asleep and waking in the middle of the night. The goal of this group is to give teens the tools and strategies they need in order to get more sleep and better quality sleep.
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Wise Girls Workshop
Wise Girls Workshop is a six-session, primary prevention program, facilitated by the Department of Psychology and thoughtfully designed to empower middle school students ages 11-14 through evidenced-based practices. Each session is 60 minutes long and will include 8-10 young female participants.
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