Teen Separation Anxiety Treatment & Symptoms

While Separation Anxiety Disorder touches approximately 4% of children, many do not receive the professional support that could help them navigate these choppy emotional waters. Recognizing this disorder in adults is a recent advancement, now included in the DSM-5. Left unaddressed, the symptoms of separation anxiety disorder tend to remain, potentially steering an individual towards additional emotional challenges.

Common Signs of Separation Anxiety Disorder in Adolescence

• Hesitation or refusal to sleep alone akin to a ship resisting leaving port.
• A strong aversion to attending school or work, or even visiting friends’ homes, as if tied to the home dock.
• Fearful thoughts of being ‘adrift’ without loved ones or worrying about their safety in one’s absence.
• A physical manifestation of distress, such as headaches or stomachaches, when facing separation.
• Persistent nightmares about separation turning slumber into a restless sea.
• Frequent check-ins with loved ones, seeking an anchor in the form of their voice or message.
  Demonstrative distress, like tantrums, when a separation looms on the horizon.

Though the currents of separation anxiety can be strong, with understanding and the right strategies, individuals can learn to sail through these fears, charting a course towards independence and emotional resilience.