Many children go through a phase of separation anxiety.
If this lasts longer, doctors see a need for treatment.
Adults can also be affected.
Fear of loss and fear of separation: Both fears are completely normal to a certain extent.
In both cases there is an underlying fear that a loved one will disappear from one's life.
This can be your partner, but also a family member or a good friend.
In the fear of loss, the problem focuses on the worry of being abandoned by a loved one and no longer loved.
Sleep disorders to panic attacks: Symptoms of pathological separation anxiety
Psychologists speak of separation anxiety when there is an intense, persistent, and developmentally inappropriate fear of separation from a caregiver.
Normally this refers to the mother, as the specialist portal
MSD Manual
further informs.
Most affected are children who are trying desperately to avoid separation situations.
If there is a separation - for example in the morning in kindergarten or when mother or father go on a trip without the child at the weekend - the child with separation anxiety tries to bring about a reunion as quickly as possible,
MSD Manual
provides further information.
Separation anxiety is treated with behavioral therapy for the child and family.
In severe cases, antidepressants are used in treatment.
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Fear of separation is usually accompanied by the fear of going through life alone.
© Imago
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As with all fears, doctors speak of a pathological anxiety disorder when the symptoms persist over a longer period of time, burden the affected person enormously and restrict everyday life.
Adults can also be affected by fear of loss and separation.
According to the medical journal
, separation anxiety is expressed
in adults as excessive fear of being separated or abandoned by important people.
While these important people in childhood are usually the parents, in adulthood separation anxiety relates to partners, family members and friends.
Separation anxiety disorder can also present with the following symptoms:
Belief of not being able to live without a certain person
Strong fears and worries
panic attacks
sleep disorders
compulsive thoughts and actions
In very severe cases, those affected can no longer pursue their profession.
Even everyday life can no longer be managed with pronounced separation anxiety.
According to the medical journal
, those affected usually
also suffer from other mental disorders such as depression, addiction or anxiety and personality disorders.
From depression to alcohol addiction: an overview of the most common mental illnesses – every third person is affected
Alcohol addiction is one of the third most frequently diagnosed mental illnesses.
Together with drug dependence, alcohol dependence accounts for 5.7 percent of diagnoses.
About one in seven adults drinks alcohol in quantities that are hazardous to health.
According to the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists, alcohol is the most common addictive substance in Germany after nicotine.
1.8 million people are classified as alcohol dependent, and another 1.6 million drink alcohol in harmful amounts, it said.
(Iconic image) © Bode/Imago
In addition to alcohol addiction, drug dependency is one of the third most common mental illnesses in Germany.
© Jens Kalaene/dpa
The so-called affective disorders are among the mental illnesses that occur second most frequently in Germany.
The depression is probably the best-known representative of this group.
According to the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology eV (dgppn), almost 10 percent of the diagnoses relate to this group of diseases.
Alone 8.2 percent are affected by a unipolar depression.
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses.
Around 16 percent of the population suffers from a depressive disorder at least once in their lives, within a year it is about 8 percent, according to the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists.
(Iconic image) © Fabian Sommer/dpa
Anxiety disorders are the most common.
According to the dgppn, 15.4 of the diagnoses relate to anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, fear of wide open spaces, etc. In those affected, the feeling of anxiety is so overwhelming that it restricts everyday life immensely.
Complaints such as tachycardia, sweating and tremors are among the symptoms of an anxiety disorder.
(symbol image) © Imago
Woman with tape measure in handEating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia are generally less widespread than the diseases mentioned above.
But in the female population between puberty and the age of 30, eating disorders are among the most common mental illnesses, according to the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists.
About one percent of women suffer from anorexia during their lifetime, about two percent suffer from bulimia in the course of their lives.
(Iconic image) © Sergiy Tryapitsyn/Imago
Causes of separation anxiety
Only a psychologist or psychiatrist can definitively determine why separation anxiety disorders exist.
According to the medical journal
, the cause can be
traced back to genetic predisposition, upbringing, dealing with conflicts in the family of origin or trauma.
Divorce or death are also mentioned as possible triggers.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
List of rubrics: © Imago