What Are the Causes of Separation Anxiety in Children?
Separation anxiety is challenging and frustrating for both parents and children. Understanding the reason for separation anxiety in small children helps find ways to solve the issue and work through the challenges together as a family. It is normal for children to have separation anxiety at certain times, and many grow out of the phase. For others, separation anxiety can continue on.
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Normal Development
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Carol E. Watkins, MD, states in her article Separation Anxiety in Young Children on HealthyPlace.com that normal anxiety and fear in young children follows a developmental sequence. Starting at infancy, babies show fear at loud noises or sudden movements. It is normal for an infant to be reluctant to be separated from parents and caregivers and is a sign of healthy development. Fear and anxiety issues continue on to when children begin walking and are hesitant of animals and strangers. This continues to school anxiety and separation issues as toddlers start school or daycare.
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Genetics
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According to TheHealthCenter.info, there is no one cause for anxiety and separation issues, but factors may play a role in causing certain children to have a higher chance of separation anxiety. Genetics and early learning is one reason some children have greater separation anxiety. If anxiety disorders run in the family, there is a higher chance that a child will suffer from separation anxiety. When fear and anxiety are modeled by loved ones, children will emulate the behavior. Watkins finds some children are more predisposed to separation anxiety from their temperament. If children are more irritable and clingy as infants, they may have more difficulty with transitions, which makes them susceptible to separation anxiety.
Chemical Imbalance
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Separation anxiety can also be due to an imbalance of important chemical messengers in the brain. According to TheHealthCenter.info, neurotransmitters that help regulate a person's thoughts and feelings can be affected if there is an imbalance. The main neurotransmitters are serotonin and dopamine. When they are not balanced it can lead to depression and anxiety. Watkins states there is potential for separation anxiety disorder if a child consistently is anxious about separation from loved ones and is inconsolable. Before consulting a physician, the anxiety must be severe enough to interfere with daily activities, cause interruptions in normal sleep patterns and cause the child to suffer physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches and abdominal pain.
Fight or Flight Response
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Fight or flight mechanisms in the body kick in due to reaction of fear or danger. They cause the heart rate to increase and the eyes to dilate. These mechanisms are meant to help the body, but small children do not understand the changes and can respond with anxiety. Being separated from a loved one triggers a flight or fight response and the brain remembers the event, causing anxiety. The child then associates separation from loved ones with flight or flight responses. According to HelpGuide.org, separation anxiety issues should fade by the age of 5 due to feeling safe and secure in new environments and understanding transition.
Separation Anxiety Responses and Solutions
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Typical separation anxiety responses in young children include crying, whining, excessive clinginess, shyness and unwillingness to interact with others. Typically, separation anxiety symptoms dissipate after three to five minutes. In most cases it is a temporary reaction to a new environment or separation from loved ones. It is a normal stage of development, and preparing children for separation and absences will build their confidence and security. According to HelpGuide.org, using babysitters for short periods of time, trying to coordinate separation after naps or feedings and making new surroundings familiar will help ease separation anxiety issues.
References
- Photo Credit "Mother and baby, red" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: sylvar (Ben Ostrowsky) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
