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Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by a severe fear of being cut off from a caregiver or loved one. Both adults and children may be impacted by this condition. In newborns and young children, separation anxiety is a common emotion. Anxiety becomes a problem that needs to be addressed when it prevents an individual from acting in an age-appropriate manner.
One of the primary distinctions between separation anxiety disorder in children and in adults is the sort of loved ones involved. When children are away from their parents or other reliable caretakers, they frequently experience anxiety. Similarly, when adults are separated from their kids, anxiety creeps in. People may also experience separation anxiety while they are in a relationship with a spouse or another close person.
Separation Anxiety Symptoms
If you're away from someone close to you, you could worry a lot about what might go wrong. Due to your mind's preoccupation with unfavorable thoughts, you might discover that you have trouble performing routine chores. The following are some indications of separation anxiety in adults:
1. Ongoing Fear
The entire world seems dangerous when you're experiencing this condition. You might be concerned that the nice people in your life will be taken away by something or someone. Being anxious is normal, and it is only natural to be concerned about your family members.
However, individuals with this anxiety find it impossible to leave the people they care about. You might worry that while you're not around, something dreadful will happen. While your loved ones may reassure you of everything being okay, you can't get rid of the feeling that something bad is about to happen.This is a tell-tale indication of separation anxiety in adults.
You hesitate to say goodbye to your loved ones because you worry about what might happen to them without you. You are powerless to get rid of this awful feeling, irrespective of how much you attempt to rationalize or dismiss your anxieties.
2) Sleeping Problems
Do you find it difficult to sleep alone? This is a less well-known yet significant separation anxiety symptom. The majority of the time, you sleep close to someone you love, but what happens when you go to a place far from home?
If you suffer from separation anxiety, this situation might paralyze you. You might worry about your house or your family as you lie awake at night in bed by yourself. Constant anxiety can seriously disrupt your sleep cycle, resulting in stress, exhaustion, and a lack of focus. When you're away from home, it's normal to worry about your loved ones, but these thoughts shouldn't have an adverse effect on your wellbeing.
3) Social Isolation
Adult anxiety can have a serious negative impact on social interaction. Those who are frightened to leave their homes or families, for instance, hardly ever interact with their social networks.
Say you received a dinner invitation from an old friend. If you choose to accept, you will be able to socialize with an old friend in a fun environment, but you will have to leave your loved ones unattended because of fear, which is something you might find yourself unwilling to do. Therefore, you withdraw into your secure environment to allay your concerns rather than taking part in a pleasant, social event.
You may find it difficult to keep up with old friends or form new ones if you're reluctant to part with your loved ones. You could become disconnected from your social life and forget how to communicate with others. If your social life has been deteriorating over time, consider why you find it difficult to interact with others. If you're concerned about the future, you might be one of the many adults who have separation anxiety.
4) Aversion to Change
Are you having trouble making adjustments in your own life? Individuals who struggle with separation anxiety are extremely afraid of significant lifestyle changes.
Extreme anxiety attacks might occur as a result of getting married, relocating to a new place, or starting college. In other words, you can be averse to change and want to prevent it at all costs. This sometimes entails declining excellent career possibilities out of fear of changing your way of life. At times, you might cling to unhealthy relationships since any change, even a positive one, might make you anxious and stressed out.
Managing Separation Anxiety
While it may sound challenging, there are ways to deal with separation anxiety, usually through counseling. A person's history and precise anxiety triggers will determine the therapy strategy.
1) Therapy
One of the most popular types of therapy used to address anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
In CBT, the therapist works with you to recognize the harmful thinking patterns that influence your actions and feelings. You are given the ability to modify your experience by getting to the root of your thinking. Using CBT on a regular basis for two months can aid in reducing stress and anxiety.
Due to their ability to reduce anxiety, mindfulness and formal meditation are frequently used in therapy. They assist people in developing the ability to divert their focus from harmful ideas and become more present. Mindfulness is used as a technique for emotional regulation in some types of therapy, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (MCBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Solution-focused therapy can be beneficial for those who can pinpoint the particular circumstances that led to their anxiety. It is sometimes offered in 6-8 sessions (or fewer) and concentrates on assisting individuals in locating solutions to certain issues and stressors. Longer-term therapy may be helpful for those with chronic anxiety issues, but solution-focused therapy is more effective at reducing situational anxiety or helping patients adjust to a particular life change.
2) Medication
The most common types of medication for this type of anxiety are antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment because every type of drug has varied effects on various people. When beginning, altering, or ending a pharmaceutical regimen, you should always have medical supervision from a psychiatrist or primary care physician.
Adult separation anxiety can be treated and conquered in a variety of methods. For example, speaking with a therapist or contacting a close friend or relative can significantly improve your mood. It can take some time to learn how to control and deal with separation anxiety, but try to keep in mind that healing is possible.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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