How Do You Recognize Separation Anxiety In Children?
Separation anxiety is at its peak in babies between the ages of 8 to 14 months. It is a normal stage of development. Generally, it totally disappears by age 2 when babies realize that just because a caregiver is out of sight does not mean they are gone forever. In older children, these anxieties can indicate a separation anxiety disorder. While the causes are unknown, stress or trauma are risk factors. Treatments can include counseling, changes in parenting techniques and anti-anxiety medications. The child exhibits ongoing, extreme distress when separated from the person or persons to whom she is most attached (usually the primary caregiver). Distress includes, crying, temper tantrums, hitting, kicking, sobbing or other indicators of extreme unhappiness. The child does not recover in a reasonable amount of time after separation but instead continues to exhibit distress even when comforted by someone other than the primary caregiver. The child is reluctant to go places because he is wo
