Separation Anxiety Disorder involves excessive fear or anxiety about being away from home or attachment figures (e.g., parents). Though more common in children, it can also affect adults in relationships.
Key Points:
- Symptoms in Children: Difficulty sleeping alone, nightmares about separation, intense distress when a caregiver leaves, refusing to go to school or elsewhere.
- Adult Manifestations: Overwhelming worry about partners or loved ones’ well-being when apart, difficulty traveling for work, clingy behaviors.
- Causes: Genetic predisposition, traumatic experiences (e.g., loss), overprotective parenting, or environmental stressors.
- Treatment: Gradual exposure, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family therapy, and anxiety management strategies.
