Separation Anxiety Disorder in Social Learning Theory Essay Example

how children suffering from separation anxiety disorder behave both at home and in school. Separation anxiety disorder has drawn much interest among child psychiatrists. Researchers have tried to give details about this condition. Different statistics from several researches do not give enough details about the disease. Separation anxiety disorder interferes with child’s normal life at home and at school. People including children learn new behaviors through observing what other people close to them are doing. The purpose of the research is to make individuals understand the disorder so that they can help in case children close to them have similar symptoms.The effect of this condition on the student’s academic progress in relation to social learning theory has been discussed at length.

Method

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors associated with separation anxiety disorder. The exact causes of separation disorder are not known. However, environmental, biological, psychological, social factors are believed to be triggering factors. Biological factors; separation anxiety disorders seems to be caused by the imbalance of norepinephrine and serotonin that are chemical neurotransmitters. This imbalance can be transmitted from parents to the child or can be caused by other factors outside the body. Genetic research has shown that parents that have been affected by anxiety and depression may transmit the same problem to their children. Psychological factors; separation anxiety disorder can be caused by any possible attempt by parents to create a distance between them and the child. The child may display separation anxiety to draw attention (In Flamez and Sheperis, 2015).

Social factors; children may learn by emulating the behaviors of those around them. They may be stressed too when those around them are stressed.

Environmental factors; children may be depressed because of what they may have been undergoing in their life. Terrible events such as rape and physical abuse may cause separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety disorder develops when a child is stressed or traumatized in life, such as a long stay in the hospital, death of a loved domestic animal, or change in environment such as to another town or change of schools from may be private to public (Merikangas, et al., 2010). The child becomes fearful and nervous.
Some parents may be over-protective, therefore, exposing their children to separation anxiety. Parental separation can also affect the child and cause separation anxiety disorder. In fact, parents and children can feed on each other’s anxiety with the child being affected most. Some studies have proved that the disorder may be inherited from family members with anxiety or mental disorders. At the thought of being separate, some children may develop symptoms such as stomachaches and headache. The child social life is affected, participation in school extra curriculum activities becomes difficult (Rapee, et al., 2010).

Signs and Symptoms

The common symptoms of anxiety disorder are worries, fears, refusals to go to school and sickness. Fear; some children may live in a panic that something dreadful is likely to happen to their closely related relatives. For example, a child may always worry about the security of a parent working in the military. Worry; children with this kind of disorder may worry about their security incase their parents are away. The child’s worry may range from getting lost to being kidnapped. Scary dreams are common in children with separation anxiety disorder but sleep immediately ones accompanied

to bed otherwise remain insomniac (Huang, et al., n.d.). Cling to the caregiver; children with separation anxiety disorder may hold on to their parents all around the house. They always hold then parents arm or leg in case of an attempt to step out and cry loudly.

Poor school performance; children suffering from this condition are likely to perform poorly in academics because of poor concentration in school. Separation anxiety disorder has drawn much interest among child psychiatrists. Refusal to go to school; a child with separation disorder may refuse to go school without any genuine reason; they may fake disease symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea to stay at home (D?bkowska, 2012). Display reluctance to go to sleep; this is associated with nightmares and fear of being alone. Children with this disorder will always seek the company of a close loved relative in bed. They and many days spent at home or in hospitals seeking medical attention (McKay and Storch, 2011).

Separation anxiety disorder occurs because a child fears his security in some way. There must be a cause for this; therefore, as a parent or a guardian, it is advisable to critically andanalyze the cause of thechild’sfear. By doing so, one will be in a closer step to helping the child. The following are common causes of separation anxiety disorder in children: Change in environment; Children usually adapt to one type of environment. The sudden change to environment affects their social life. Changes to surroundings like a new house, school, or day care situation could easily trigger separation anxiety. Stress; condition that may stress a child’s life include ,a transfer from one school to another, death

of loved one, including a pet lead to separation anxiety disorder. Over-protective parents; parent’s anxiety may be reflected in their children life. It is sometimes important for parents to allow their children to socialize with other children of their age (Tonge, n.d.). This may help them to cope up with life in case the parents passes away or relocates to a different place.

Helping children with separation anxiety disorder involves making the child feel safer in all his or her daily activities. Parents should learn several ways of dealing with separation anxiety in their children. Firstly, parents should educate themselves about separation anxiety disorder. This helps the parents to understand how the child experiences this disorder and easily sympathize with his or her struggles. Secondly, parents should always listen and respect their children’s feeling. Listening to a child who is already suffering from Isolation disorder forms a great part of the healing processes. It enables the child to feel loved and taken care of. Separation anxiety disorder children like their attention taken care of, otherwise, ignoring them might do more harm than good (DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Thirdly, it is good to be empathetic, discuss the underlying issue and comfort the child. Finally, anticipate separation difficulty. If one’s child separates from one parent more easily than the other does, then have that parent, handle the drop.

There are several ways of helping children with separation anxiety feel safe and secure, they include, providing a consistent pattern for the day, setting limits and offering choices. If there are changes to be made within the family schedules, it is reasonable to discuss about it a head of your

time with the child. Parents should inform their children well of the rules and regulations that are to be followed in the household. Discipline should be paramount. It is good to give children a chance to make their choices (Dabkowska, et al., 2011). They should be allowed to take control in an activity or interaction with an adult; he or she may feel safe and comfortable.

Healthy separation and independence in children should be encouraged. This is achievable through the following ways, providing a steady pattern for the day; children are quite observative and know how to study parent’s mood, if u stays cool, the child is likely to calm down too. In supporting the child’s participation in extra-curriculum activities, it is advisable to encourage one’s child to take part in social and physical activities. Social activities help in broadening the child’s mind and improve his or her general way of thinking. Physical activities improve the child’s healthy and help in controlling life style diseases like blood pressure. Helping a child who has been out of school to return in the shortest time possible; children’s separation symptoms are likely to decrease if he or she stays out of school for long especially if they realize that they can survive the separation (Dabkowska, et al., 2011). The more such children stay away from school, the more they find schooling unnecessary. Praise your child’s effort; it is very important to appreciate or praise the child’s small accomplishments achievement, for example, praising a child’s report from school.

Control

It is recommended for a parent to adapt new ways of easing normal separation anxiety in children through the following, practice separation; this

involves leaving the child with day caretakers for a certain period of the day while maintaining short distances. Timed separations after eating; a hungry baby is more prone to separation anxiety than a well fed one. Developing nice words when biding the baby goodbye; this can involve a special kiss or hugging the child warmly before leaving the house, this creates a sense of togetherness, andthe baby feels loved. It is good to expose the child to the outside world; it is good for the child to familiarize with the new environment other than the homestead (Eldar, et al., 2014). Taking the child to hotels, children play ground, and national parks may help relive separation anxiety disorders. It is advisable to maintain a constant caregiver; this enables him or her to learn the child’s behavior well. Minimizing scary television; watching less frightening television shows may prevent the child from getting nightmares.

Treatment

Treatment for separation anxiety disorders in children.Healthcare specialists who diagnose and treat separation anxiety disorder include neurologists, child psychologist and, child psychiatrists. The work of these clinicians is to consolidate information from home, school and make a visit for diagnosis. Children with separation anxiety disorder have occasional physical illnesses that may require medical evaluation. Usually, specialists analyzethese symptoms and identify anxious thoughts (Sadjadi, n.d.). They help the child with management strategies and stimulate problem solving.

Specialist treatment for separation anxiety disorder may include family counseling. It helps one child to defeat the thoughts that lead to his or her anxiety while the parent can help the child learn the coping skills. Separation anxiety disorder is a common response in children especially when their guardians or parents

are away, caretakers or environment they have been considering safe. There is the need for special attention if the problem goes above the child’s age limit.This is likely to hamper the child’s normal activities of young age and can develop more problems that can greatly affect their future (In Flamez and Sheperis, 2015). A child with separation disorder detaches him or herself from others. Therefore, special attention is necessary to in preventing more complications.

Separation anxiety disorders treatment usually concentrates on helping the child to lower and keep control their fears and enjoy their age life for their age where interaction with the surrounding environment and people outside their home and family is essential. It isimportant for parents to source learning materials that educate that educate them about separation anxiety disorder and where they can for professionals dealing with such cases. Play therapy; there is the use of games ,toys, and puppets in helping the child express their feelings, this helps in raising the emotional well being of the child. The use of creative arts helps to achieve it (M. B., & Tasman, 2010). Group therapy; Children with separation anxiety are confined in one place and encouraged to share and inform each other about their feelings and experiences.
Finally, they are taken to a safe environment for new behavior practice. Therapeutic play is used in managing an underlying psychological issue that is hindering the child from functioning normally (Mohatt, et al., 2014. It also acts as a method of revealing problems that are more critical. School- based counseling; this helps the child to concentrate on his or her studies. Teachers should note any behavior change related to

separation anxiety disorder and report to the school management proper follow up. Medication may be used; this depends on the severity of the condition (Sadock, et al., 2011). A doctor may prescribe antidepressants for this condition. However, it is necessary to combine the use of drugs with other therapies.

Conclusion

As discussed above separation anxiety usually affects children aged between three to four years. It represents a healthy response in young ones especially when confronted with separation from attachment figure, their homes, and parents. However, when the separation leads to critical, endless anxiety and much distress that affects,academic, social, or other areas of functioning, the child may suffer from separation anxiety disorder. Children with anxious or stressed parents may be more prone to separation anxiety disorder. Stress and anxiety levels can be kept in check through the following strategies: exercising regularly; this helps in lowering and controlling the effects of stress. Eating well; nutrients helps the body to cope with stress. Seeking professional help for separation anxiety in children is very important. A child should be observed properly for any separation anxiety disorder that goes above his or her level of management. At mild level, seeking professional medical help is advisable otherwise; the damage might be above repair. Teachers are trained on behavior change observation techniques hence they are in a better position when it comes to noting new behavior in children.

References

1. Biederman, J., Hirshfeld-Becker, D. R., Rosenbaum, J. F., Hérot, C., Friedman, D., Snidman, N., ...&Faraone, S. V. (2014). Further evidence of association between behavioral inhibition and social anxiety in children.American journal of Psychiatry.
2. Dbkowska, M. (2012).Separation Anxiety in Children as the Most Common Disorder Co-Occurring
   

with School Refusal.Medical and Biological Sciences

psychiatry.