Learn About Adult Separation Anxiety

by Inspiration4Living.com

Do you suspect that you or a loved one could be suffering from adult separation anxiety? Here, you will be able to learn more about this subject.

Fifteen years ago, as far as psychiatry was concerned, Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder (ASAD) was virtually unknown. While a mental disorder since the 90s, it has been long associated with juveniles, and rarely looked for or diagnosed in other age groups. It is now believed, however, that the core symptoms of the disorder may carry into adulthood; or more commonly arise there.

This disorder, a psychological condition now known to affect people of all ages, causes individuals extreme anxiety and / or fear if separated from certain places (such as their home) or from people with whom they have a particularly strong emotional attachment. In children, perhaps to both or one or the other parent, while in an adult, it might be to their spouse.

Separation anxiety is not necessarily an extreme condition at all times. There are times in all lives when it is quite natural, as well as being healthy – in infants, for instance, starting about the time they are eight months and can increase until they are about 15 months or older, at which time the anxiety begins to lessen once more. Adolescents oftentimes experience a form of separation anxiety if they are moved from familiar surroundings, particularly after something threatening or traumatic has taken place.

While separation anxiety can be a normal process in a person’s life, the disorder can be recognized by the significant number or recurrent number of times the same anxiety about the same thing occurs.

Adult separation anxiety affects about 7% of adults and is actually more common than childhood separation anxiety, which affects only about 4% of children.

Some sufferers in the US do first experience separation anxiety while children, but the majority of adult separation anxiety sufferers first experience it they after they have reached adulthood. It is commonly associated with other psychiatric illnesses, especially those related to anxiety or mood conditions / disorders.

Characteristics of separation anxiety could include all or just some of the following symptoms:

1) Distress when separated from a specific subject of attachment – father, mother, spouse, etc, which reoccurs on a regular basis;

2) Excessive and / or persistent worrying about losing your specific emotional attachment;

3) A fear that a particular event will lead to such;

4) A fear that you will be alone without your specific emotional attachment;

5) Refusal, or at least reluctance, to go to sleep without the specific emotional attachment being close at hand, or their whereabouts and / or time of arrival agreed upon and known;

6) Lastly, you might experience excessive crying or nightmares about being separated from the emotional tie.

Adult separation anxiety disorder is often a symptom of another condition known as co-morbid. For instance, children suffering separation anxiety are likely to suffer ADHD, while adults might suffer bipolar and / or a panic disorder. It is also associated with social and / or personal impairment, such as being poorly educated or unemployed. It also affects the unmarried more often, as well.

While 75% of adult separation anxiety sufferers are receiving treatment, it is usually for related psychiatric illnesses other than separation anxiety.

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