SEPARATION ANXIETY
Separation anxiety is defined as the individual's inability to separate from the person or home to which he or she is attached, or feeling intense anxiety and uneasiness when he or she moves away from the home or person
. This disorder is seen in children
as clinging to the mother or primary caregiver and crying crises when away from the mother. When these children reach school age, they may have problems adapting to school. Children with separation
anxiety may insist on not going to school in the morning, refuse school by saying they are sick, may experience somatic symptoms due to the stress of school, and may actually experience nausea, stomachaches and headaches. They can be absent. This disorder can also be seen as truancy in high school age
adolescents.
Separation anxiety is based on Attachment Theory. Attachment theory is the trust-based bond established between mother and baby. A baby is a living being that is completely dependent on the mother in the first two years from birth; It needs its mother to protect itself from dangers and to survive. During this period, it is essential for the mother to meet the baby's vital needs and provide him/her with a warm and safe environment for the formation of secure
attachment. In secure attachment, the baby knows that he will be fed when he is hungry, that he will be taken care of when he cries, and that he will be protected from dangers.
This is the first and most important step in the child's sense of trust in the outside world and himself in later years. Because secure attachment provides the safe environment away from dangers that the child needs while exploring life and himself. Thus, the child can examine the outside world calmly, learn through exploration and observation, and receive useful feedback from the mother. Children who are securely attached to their mothers become restless when their mothers leave the room; They also show joy when the mother
comes back. Older children, on the other hand, can calm themselves down by thinking that the mother will definitely return, even if they experience restlessness. This is the biggest distinguishing feature of secure
attachment.
Separation anxiety also occurs when there is no secure attachment, and the child is attached to the caregiver in infancy in an anxious and insecure manner rather than a healthy
one. It is frequently seen in certain situations. Apart from this, excessive
anxious/anxious/protective parental attitudes, inconsistent attention shown to the child or attitudes away from warmth, being separated for a long time in infancy, and traumatic experiences with the theme of separation in childhood
It may cause separation anxiety.
Although school refusal is common in separation anxiety, the child's inability to separate from the mother is more prominent
. Studies suggest that the basis of school refusal seen in separation anxiety is
the child's inability to handle being in a separate environment
from the mother, rather than the child not wanting to go to school. For this reason, even if children go to school, they demand that their mothers wait for them until school is over and stand in a place where they can see them when looking out the window.
At later ages, they cannot get away from their mothers and have difficulty in going to school on their own, out of concern that their mothers may be harmed
in an environment where they are not present.
In order to prevent separation anxiety, secure
attachment should be established with the baby between the ages of 0-2. is essential. Likewise, a reassuring
and warm attitude should be maintained during weaning and toilet training, but at the same time consistent and clear boundaries should be set.
The child should be given tasks appropriate to his age and encouraged to do these tasks alone. .
One should not be overprotective, the child should be allowed to explore and make mistakes; While he
is exploring and playing, he should be made to know that the mother will do the necessary things to keep him safe and that even if he leaves,
he will come back.
In the critical age range (0-2), long-term separations should be avoided; But after the age of 2, it is also very important to prepare the child for school with short-term separations (such as leaving the child to a caregiver for a certain period of time in accordance with his/her age).
Gradual exposure and family therapy in anxious children;
absenteeism and adaptation Cognitive behavioral therapy is also very beneficial for adolescents with problems.
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