Areas of Specialization - Children and Adolescents
Conquering Separation Anxiety and Sleep Difficulties
Case example
| Sarah is a seven year old
girl whose parents divorced
three years ago. Sarah had
begun to worry about her mother
since her parents separated.
She is frightened that her
mother will be killed in a
car accident and terrified
of a burglar kidnapping her
so that she will never see
her mother again. Sarah cries
whenever her mother leaves
her and she refuses to stay
overnight at her father's
home. Consequently Sarah's
mother rarely makes plans
in the evening that do not
include Sarah. Whenever Sarah
visits with her father, she
constantly asks for her mother
and cries until she can talk
to her on the phone. Since
beginning second grade, Sarah
has begun to resist going
to school and each morning
complains of a stomachache.
Sarah's mother is exhausted
and sometimes allows her to
stay home to avoid the frustration
of Sarah's tantrums. When
Sarah stays home from school
she is permitted to watch
television and accompany her
mother on her errands for
the day. Sarah refuses to
sleep in her own bed, fears
the dark, and complains of
nightmares in which her mother
is killed. Every night Sarah's
mother spends at least two
hours trying to convince Sarah
to fall asleep in her own
bed. However Sarah wakes up
in the middle of the night
and comes into her mother's
bed until the next morning.
|
Separation Anxiety Disorder is
the only anxiety disorder that
exclusively occurs in children.
The defining characteristics of
this separation anxiety are excessive
fear regarding separation from
parents, caregivers and their
home. The typical behaviors and
complaints vary with the age but
generally include somatic complaints
(e.g., stomachaches, headaches,
nausea, and vomiting), abandoning
extracurricular activities, experiencing
strained friendships (e.g., refuse
to visit or sleep at friend's
homes), weakened academic performance,
and complain of specific fears
(e.g., monsters, animals, insects,
the dark, and fear of getting
lost). These children express
extreme distress at even the prospect
of separation, may show anger
or occasionally become physically
aggressive. Children with separation
anxiety are frequently described
as demanding, intrusive, and requiring
constant attention, such that
parental frustration and family
conflict are a characteristic
result.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
in Children and Adolescents -
Separation Anxiety>>
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