Can an adult suffer from Separation Anxiety Disorder?

It is estimated that between 1% and 5% of children and adolescents who attend a psychiatric consultation suffer from an separation anxiety, a figure that can increase considerably if we take into account undiagnosed cases. However, separation anxiety disorder is not just a thing for children, adults can also suffer from it. In fact, it is estimated that Between 30-60% of children who have suffered from this disorder continue to have adaptive problems, anxiety and/or social difficulties in adulthood..

Although this is a problem that is often overlooked and that, in many cases, tends to be confused with the emotional dependence, the truth is that it can become a disabling disorder and/or affect the functional development of the daily life of the people who suffer from it. Fortunately, it is an alteration that can be overcome with proper therapy, restoring to the person the ability to enjoy life more fully and autonomously.

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What is separation anxiety disorder?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), separation anxiety disorder is nothing more than fear or anxiety, intense and persistent, caused by the separation, probable or real, of a person with whom one has a psychological bond narrow. In other words, it is a kind of psychological discomfort that appears at the possibility of separating from an attachment figure with whom a strong emotional bond is maintained. Hence, it is so common in childhood, a stage in which there is greater vulnerability and psychological dependence.

For those who suffer from this disorder, the idea of ​​being alone generates a feeling of abandonment and insecurity, which It causes them great psychological anguish and enormous worry and uncertainty. For this reason, they often refuse to stay alone at home and/or have to go to other places such as school or work for fear of being separated from the other person and feeling abandoned. In many cases, separation anxiety also manifests itself with psychosomatic symptoms, causing headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal upset, or lightheadedness, occurring upon actual or anticipated separation from the figure of attachment.

Yes, Separation Anxiety Disorder Affects Adults Too

We tend to think that separation anxiety disorder affects only children, but the truth is that adults can also suffer from it. In fact, a study conducted by professional psychologists involving 38,993 adults from 18 countries found that 43.1% of cases of separation anxiety usually manifest themselves after the age of 18.

Although many of the cases of separation anxiety in adulthood are related to other psychological disorders such as anxiety, the major depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, conduct disorders, panic disorders, or specific and social phobias, as well It can occur because of an overprotective family environment in childhood in which the individual grows up thinking that the world is insecure and dangerous. It is also common among insecure people or with low self-esteem who have a great emotional dependency.

Also, it is known that the disorder may develop after a stressful life event, such as emancipation from the parental home, maternity or paternity or the loss of someone dear. In these cases, the affected person may develop greater vulnerability and psychological dependence on their environment in fear of facing an insecure world alone and/or losing someone with whom they have a strong bond emotional. A dependency and emotional vulnerability that, if not overcome over time, can accentuate the symptoms and perpetuate the disorder.

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How does separation anxiety disorder manifest itself in adults?

The manifestations of separation anxiety disorder are usually quite similar in childhood and adulthood, obviously adapting to the psychological development of each stage. While children with the disorder tend to display more irrational behavior and greater emotional reactivity, adults tend to control their emotions better and experience discomfort more intrinsically. Some of the most common symptoms of separation anxiety disorder in adults are:

• Recurrent and excessive emotional distress, when a separation from the person with whom a close bond is maintained, such as a partner or parents, is anticipated or experienced.
• Recurring and excessive concern about the possibility that an adverse event, such as an accident, assault or disappearance, could cause the separation of the attachment figure.
• Habitual and excessive worry due to the possible loss of the attachment figure or that he may become ill or have an accident.
• Excessive fear or rejection of being alone or without the person with whom a strong bond is maintained.
• Habitual resistance to leave home and go to work, on a trip or to another place for fear of feeling abandoned.
• Recurring nightmares on the subject of separation.
• Psychosomatic signs such as headache, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness that occur when separation from the attachment figure is anticipated or occurs.

It should be noted that, although to diagnose separation anxiety disorder in childhood, at least three of these symptoms must be present for at least four weeks, in the case of adults they must persist for six months or more, at the same time that they must be accompanied by clinically significant discomfort and/or noticeable deterioration in one or several areas of functioning, whether in the work, family or social sphere.

6 Tips for Coping with Separation Anxiety Disorder in Adulthood

Whether you temporarily develop separation anxiety disorder as a result of trauma or exceptional circumstance or suffer from it chronically, there are different psychological therapies that can help you eliminate the symptoms and address the causes that are at the base of the disorder. Some of the most used are cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, but group or family therapy or the use of anxiolytic medications or antidepressants.

Since the anxiety disorder usually presents with other psychological disorders, it is best to resort to a psychology professional with whom to learn to reorient the focus and acquire functional resources to face the new path.

In the mildest cases, there are some simple and easy-to-implement resources that They can help you deal with those feelings of insecurity and abandonment and alleviate your emotional discomfort:

1. Acknowledge and accept what happens to you

The first step to be able to deal with separation anxiety disorder and get rid of that uncertainty and insecurity is precisely to recognize what is happening to you. It is important that you be aware of the sensations and emotions that you experience when separating from the other person and accept them. Only in this way will you be prepared to get down to work.

2. Be honest with the other person

Talk to the other person and tell them what is happening to you it will not only help you to lighten the enormous emotional load that you carry on your shoulders, but it will make you feel more understood. In this way, you will feel more supported and you will be able to channel your negative thoughts with someone who really understands you. In fact, it may also be a good idea to draw up a routine or action plan together that will help you better deal with separation.

3. Do activities that occupy your mind

Keeping your mind occupied with other activities while you are away from your attachment figure can be an excellent resource for relieving anxiety and emotional discomfort. To do this, choose activities that require a certain level of concentration and that bring you positive feelings, such as practicing your favorite sport, reading a book or doing crafts. The practice of yoga, meditation or mindfulness are also good options.

4. Change negative thoughts to positive ones

Ruminate over and over again your fears and negative thoughts about what can happen to the other person or to yourself if you stay alone it will only increase your discomfort and feeling of insecurity. Therefore, it is important that you learn to recognize these ideas and change them for positive thoughts. For example, instead of thinking “What if he has an accident on the plane?”, you could think “In a few days he will be back safe and sound”.

5. Breathe to calm anxiety

Did you know that the rhythm of your breathing influences your level of anxiety? This is because your breathing directly influences your brain activity, having an activating or relaxing effect on your mind. Therefore, a good resource to calm your anxiety and control negative thoughts about the separation consists of practice soft and rhythmic breathing exercises that help you relax tension and regain control of your mind.

6. Strengthen your self-esteem

When you feel insecure, you do not trust your abilities and you feel that you need another person to be who you are, each time you become more dependent and it is more difficult for you to separate from your attachment figure. Therefore, if you want to put an end to this vicious circle, start by strengthening the image that you have of yourself, be aware that you do not need anyone to complete you and trust your capabilities.

concluding

Finally, if you notice that your separation anxiety symptoms are not improving or are getting worse, it is best to seek professional help and resort to online or face-to-face therapy. Traveling this path hand in hand with a psychologist will not only help you discover the causes that are at the base of the disorder, but will allow you to find the most appropriate and effective treatment for your case.