separation anxiety

Examples of separation anxiety in the following topics:

• Attachment Theory

  • Separation anxiety (becoming upset when a trusted caregiver leaves) has not set in yet but will be seen in the next stage.
  • Clear-cut attachment (8 months to 18 months): Attachment to trusted caregivers continues to strengthen in this stage, and separation anxiety is likely in a caregiver's absence.
  • For example, children can now understand that a parent returns home from work at a certain time each day, so separation anxiety lessens—although the child may do things to gain extra time with the parent prior to departure or to keep the parent from leaving.
  • Resistant/Ambivalent: Children with this form of attachment are unable to use the caregiver as a secure base, and they seek out the caregiver prior to separation.
  • They are not easily calmed by the caregiver or the stranger, and they feel anxiety with the caregiver due to inconsistent attachment patterns.

• Introduction to Anxiety Disorders

  • Anxiety disorders involve extreme reactions to anxiety-inducing situations, including excessive worry, uneasiness, apprehension, or fear.
  • Anxiety disorders, however, are dysfunctional responses to anxiety-inducing situations.
  • The difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder is that anxiety disorders cause such severe distress as to interfere with someone's ability to lead a normal life.
  • "Anxiety disorder" refers to any of a number of specific disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, phobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
  • Anxiety in and of itself is not a bad thing.

• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

  • As with specific phobias, social anxiety disorder is common in the United States; a little over 12% of all Americans experience social anxiety disorder during their lifetime (Kessler et al., 2005).
  • The heart of the anxiety in social anxiety disorder is the person’s concern that they may act in a humiliating or embarrassing way, such as appearing foolish, showing symptoms of anxiety (such as blushing), or doing or saying something that might lead to rejection (such as offending others).
  • Although many people become anxious in social situations like public speaking, the fear, anxiety, and avoidance experienced in social anxiety disorder are highly distressing and lead to serious impairments in life.
  • When people with social anxiety disorder are unable to avoid situations that provoke anxiety, they typically perform safety behaviors: mental or behavioral acts that reduce anxiety in social situations by reducing the chance of negative social outcomes.
  • This anxiety—or efforts to avoid the anxiety-inducing situation—must cause considerable distress and an impaired ability to function in at least some parts of social, occupational, academic, or daily life.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by chronic anxiety that is excessive, uncontrollable, and often irrational.
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic anxiety that is excessive, uncontrollable, often irrational, and disproportionate to the actual object of concern.
  • Long-term use of benzodiazepines can worsen underlying anxiety, with evidence that reduction in benzodiazepine use can in turn lead to a lessening of anxiety symptoms.
  • Similarly, long-term alcohol use is associated with the development of anxiety disorders, with evidence that prolonged abstinence can in turn result in the remission of anxiety symptoms.
  • Summarize the diagnostic criteria, etiology, and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

• Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders

  • However, psychotherapy—in combination with antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications—can be useful if an individual is receptive to intervention.
  • People with STPD frequently seek medical attention for anxiety or depression, but the underlying personality disorder often goes undiagnosed.
  • excessive social anxiety that does not abate and stems from paranoia rather than negative judgments about the self.
  • There is also evidence to suggest that parenting styles, early separation, and history of trauma or maltreatment.
  • In addition, it is difficult to develop rapport with people who experience closeness and intimacy as more uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing.

• Cluster C: Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders

  • The diagnosis for dependent personality disorder includes the pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of which leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.
  • In order to be diagnosed, the person must allow others to take over and run their life; is submissive, clingy, and fears separation; cannot make decisions without advice and reassurance from others; lacks self-confidence; cannot do things on their own; and/or feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone.
  • Children and adolescents with a history of anxiety disorders and physical illnesses are more susceptible to acquiring this disorder.
  • Various medications may also be used to treat comorbid (co-occurring) disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
  • OCPD is distinct from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is an anxiety (rather than a personality) disorder, and the relation between the two is contentious.

• Hypnosis

  • Dissociation is when a person's behavioral control is separated from his or her awareness.
  • Hypnosis has also been used to treat physical ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome and psoriasis, and it has been successfully used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.

• Somatosensation: Pressure, Temperature, and Pain

  • Receptor cells in the muscles and joints called proprioceptors also aid in the somatosensory system, but they are sometimes separated into another sensory category called kinesthesia.
  • Pain signals can be separated into three types that correspond to the different types of nerve fibers used for transmitting these signals.
  • Conversion disorder: A somatic symptom disorder involving an actual loss of bodily function such as blindness, paralysis, or numbness due to excessive anxiety.
  • Illness anxiety disorder: A somatic symptom disorder involving persistent and excessive worry about developing a serious illness.

• Specific Phobia

  • Specific phobias involve excessive, distressing, and persistent fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.
  • Even though people realize their level of fear and anxiety in relation to the phobic stimulus is irrational, some people with a specific phobia may go to great lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus (the object or situation that triggers the fear and anxiety).
  • Typically, the fear and anxiety a phobic stimulus elicits is disruptive to the person’s life.
  • At a low level, fear and anxiety are not bad things.
  • In fact, the hormonal response to anxiety has evolved as a benefit, since it helps humans react to dangers.

• Gender Dysphoria

  • Symptoms of gender dysphoria in children include discomfort with their genitalia, feeling that they are a different gender than the one they were assigned, social isolation from their peers, anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
  • Adults with gender dysphoria are at increased risk for stress, isolation, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, and suicide.
  • The diagnosis for children has been separated from that for adults.