Separation Anxiety Treatment

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Separation anxiety is a condition that some people experience. It can present itself as anxiety when something or somebody leaves and can become debilitating if not properly treated.

The condition became more well-known in the wake of Covid-19 as more people were reported to have experienced feelings of separation anxiety.

Find out more about the signs and symptoms of separation anxiety here.

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Separation Anxiety TreatmentAttachment issues and feeling anxious over the prospect of distance, lone company and separation are commonly linked to animals and children. However, such symptoms and thought processes can also be experienced by adults, known as separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety is the diagnosis for behaviours or responses which surround the fear of separation. For example, someone who’s fearful of leaving their loved ones or children, to the point where such fear becomes crippling can induce such anxiety.

While many onlookers may question the credibility of such diagnosis, especially as an indefinite cause is yet to be found, separation anxiety in adults is experienced and is causing just as much disruption and suffering as the likes of social anxiety.

If you’re finding it hard to detach yourself from your loved ones, if your quality of life is depleting down to such strong emotions, and if you’re suffering through the symptoms of anxiety, it’s time to consider some professional guidance.

Consider our breakdown of separation anxiety treatment here at Rehab Clinics Group to provide an overview of how to manage symptoms of anxiety and detachment issues.

 

What is separation anxiety?

Do you ever feel anxious about leaving your family, friends, children, parents or associates? Do you feel a burning demand to remain attached to such engagements? Does the idea of being alone for a long period of time cause feelings of anxiety? While uncommon for many, separation anxiety is common for a proportion of the population, resembling such difficulties.

Separation anxiety can present itself through fear, worry, through significant nervous energy, all around detaching from other people. It’s a highly prevalent talking point and concentration in both child and animal behaviour and development. However, it’s rarely considered an effect in adults.

However, unfortunately, falling under the diagnosis of anxiety, and commonly fuelled by pre-existing relatable conditions, separation anxiety can result in relationship issues, detachment problems, social withdrawal and dependence concerns.

 

Symptoms of separation anxiety

While anxiety can present itself in many different ways, there are some common symptoms of separation anxiety to look out for and consider.

  • Increased anxiety when alone or leaving a loved one
  • The risk of panic attacks if such anxiety continues
  • Detachment problems
  • Relationship issues, down to such a hold
  • Personal problems with confidence, independence and self-esteem
  • Fears over the wellbeing of loved ones
  • The ongoing need to remain close to others
  • Physical symptoms of anxiety disorders, which commonly manifest through chest pains, headaches and insomnia

While some of the above symptoms may reflect worry, may reflect alternative mental health issues, or may reflect a short-term response to neglect, loneliness or detachment, if such symptoms are experienced over a 6-month period, separation anxiety can be diagnosed.

It’s very normal to be worried about our loved ones and our relationships. Yet if such worry is consuming your life, reducing the quality of your life, and impacting your health, outlooks and perspective, it’s time to consider separation anxiety treatment.

 

Risks of undiagnosed separation anxiety

Separation anxiety can sometimes be brought on by alternative cases of anxiety, by loss, by significant change, such as an emotional breakdown, or by trauma. Such causes can result in complex outlooks, where those affected may believe that they are instead working through grief, heartbreak or stress.

Here’s where the risk of undiagnosed separation anxiety can occur, which can be damaging on social, physical and psychological scales. Consider the impacts that generalised anxiety can have on the mind and body. Now think about how impactful social anxiety can be. Now combine both impacts together, where separation anxiety can cause all-around negative impacts on life.

Such anxiety can also materialise into other compulsive behaviours, including OCD, substance abuse and paranoia, which will be even harder to work through if undiagnosed.

 

Sourcing treatment here at Rehab Clinics Group

Reaching out and accepting treatment can feel daunting. However, this step is necessary to protect your health, wellbeing, relationships and future. At Rehab clinics Group, we have a dependable network of treatment centres where separation anxiety treatment can be experienced.

Whichever rehab clinic you select, you can expect to complete a persona programme, to cater to your type and degree of separation anxiety. Please feel at ease knowing that our services are confidential and designed to help you recover.

Reach out for more information, or if you have any input for our separation anxiety treatment.

 

Source

https://www.healthline.com/health/separation-anxiety-in-adults#risk-factors

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What causes separation anxiety?

    There isn’t a definite cause for separation anxiety, making it a complex type of anxiety to experience. However, it is found that stress, excessive loneliness, trauma, unexpected death or neglect, and pre-existing mental health issues can all fuel the development of detachment issues. If untreated, those issues will likely develop into separation anxiety, where symptoms are experienced consistently, for more than 6 months.

  • How dangerous is undiagnosed and untreated separation anxiety?

    It can be extremely dangerous for any mental health issue to go by undiagnosed and untreated. Focus is mainly placed on physical and psychological risks, where such feelings of anxiety can heighten and develop into even worse symptoms. It is natural to initially push away support. Yet, once greater awareness has been experienced, it is important to accept separation anxiety treatment, specific for your needs.

  • What separation anxiety treatment will be recommended?

    Personal recommendations will be made through our network here at Rehab Clinics Group. Yet there are a wide range of separation anxiety treatment services which are appropriate and effective, accessible to you. Psychological therapies for separation anxiety include cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, talking therapies and support group sessions. All offer perspective, all challenge emotions and responses, all promote change and accountability, and all aim to rationalise such symptoms of separation anxiety. Exposure therapy and family therapy are also effective treatments for separation anxiety, to consider relationship dynamics and how to strengthen such relationships, while promoting independence. As separation anxiety is a type of anxiety disorder, there’s a chance that medication may also be prescribed to help suppress symptoms. Mood stabilisers and antidepressants may be recommended, if suitable to help restore brain functionality and outlooks at a quicker pace.