Separation Anxiety Disorder In Adults

When you hear the word “separation anxiety” you probably think of young children. However, separation anxiety disorder (SAD) can also affect adults.

Separation anxiety is when a person is afraid of being separated from a person, an animal or even an object. As you can probably imagine, the separation anxiety occurs after the actual separation. Possible symptoms range from dizziness and headache to sore throat.

Separation anxiety often occurs in children, especially during the first years of life. Young children are not yet able to understand why the parents have to leave, that they still exist and that they will continue to be a part of the child’s life.

It may seem strange that adults can have this disorder, since adults are able to understand that someone can walk, and then come back later. However, the anxiety comes from the uncertainty associated with when they want to see the person, place or object again. The uncertainty can be especially intense in certain situations, such as when a soldier is sent to a particularly unsafe place.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, a person should be diagnosed with separation anxiety when they show the following symptoms:

• Excessive anxiety associated with being separated from a person, an animal or an object.
• Fear of being alone.
• An intense need to always know where the other person is.

In adults, these symptoms can last for six months or more. They can cause significant anxiety and affect life both privately and at work.

Causes of separation anxiety in adults

Separation anxiety in adults tends to appear after you have been separated from a person close to you. On the other hand, separation anxiety may also be related to other types of mental problems, such as delirious ideas (psychotic disorders) or fear of change (autism spectrum disorders).

Sometimes adults with separation anxiety disorder can have a controlling or over-protective effect. However, their actions are often an adult’s way of expressing separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety can stem from childhood. More specifically, it may be related to the individual’s first attachment bond. It can also come from later experiences of unexpected and sudden losses. Trauma related to abuse and neglect can also create separation anxiety.

Risk factors

Separation anxiety in adults often develops after losing someone close to you, or after a major event in life. Moving away from home to study and divorce are two common reasons for separation anxiety.

The likelihood of developing separation anxiety as an adult is much higher if you were also diagnosed with separation anxiety as a child. Adults who grow up with authoritarian parents also have a higher risk of developing this type of disorder. Another high-risk group are people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Psychologists often diagnose separation anxiety disorder (SAD) in adults who have one of the following mental disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Panic attack
• Social Anxiety
• Personality disorders

Treatment options

Some possible treatments for this disorder include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy.
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Drugs such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and various psychoactive substances

Qualified professionals are the only ones who can diagnose SAD and prescribe a treatment for the disorder. If you think that you or someone you know may have this disorder, you can therefore start by booking an appointment with a relevant mental health professional.