Who Is Affected By Separation Anxiety Disorder?
The separation anxiety disorder is observed in young children moving towards the stage of adolescence.
About 4-9% of young children have SAD, in comparison to a little low percentage in adolescence.
Onset of the disorder is usually between the ages 7 months to 11 months with its prominence in the children of 3rd or 4th grade of schooling.
Then onwards symptoms of the disorder continue till the age of 18 years (for the purpose of more logical convenience of diagnostic classification, the continuation of the disorder may be termed differently for the adolescent ages).
Severity of the disorder is more experienced by children of age group 18 months to 3 years.
However, it can show up any time in the life of a child, without relating to a specific period of their childhood.
As suggested by some researchers in this field, the prominence of SAD is typically diagnosed in the age group of 3 to 6 years due to their perception of confused fantasy of dreams and assumed belief in non-living, clearly directing towards the cause and effect psychology of human being.
SAD may also have some relation with inheritance as of its reported linkage to a larger disposition in the children of parents who themselves had suffered the disorder in their childhood.
Diverse opinion exists about SAD's presence in boys and girls.
Some opine of equal number of patients undergoing treatment for the disorder, while some others forward opinion of a double number of girls as many boys are affected.
This may not reveal a correct picture since the boys find it more uncomfortable to discuss their problem and bear with it longer before seeking help.
The relative causes for those who suffer are different due to influence of various social stimulations.
The symptom of the fear of separation is slightly lower in adolescent stage than in childhood.
Children of 2 to 4 years of age, who are afraid to be alone, scared of loud noise, darkness, injury, animals and imaginary subjects due to inconsistency of grooming and raising habits, may bloom up as SAD.
In ages 3 to 6 years there seem to be predominance of imaginary nonexistent understandings.
A little older group of children, above 8 years, continue to dwell upon the fears already embedded in their minds, accentuated with fear of divorce, death in family, bodily injuries, criticism; and these are likely to prolong until their teens.
In age between 11 and 12 years children may start getting scared of kidnapping, injections and lone presence in the darkness.
A 13 year old may become acrophobic (fearing heights) and the same may be the situation with an adolescent.
In the ages of 14 to 18 years children may develop wide range of rational fears like terrorism, plane or car crash, sexual relations, public speaking, school or college performance, crowds, gossips and divorce in addition to what he or she might have already obsessed with.
The situation of SAD is more pronounced with children who have encountered being very focused on perceived judgment by peers and family members.
About 4-9% of young children have SAD, in comparison to a little low percentage in adolescence.
Onset of the disorder is usually between the ages 7 months to 11 months with its prominence in the children of 3rd or 4th grade of schooling.
Then onwards symptoms of the disorder continue till the age of 18 years (for the purpose of more logical convenience of diagnostic classification, the continuation of the disorder may be termed differently for the adolescent ages).
Severity of the disorder is more experienced by children of age group 18 months to 3 years.
However, it can show up any time in the life of a child, without relating to a specific period of their childhood.
As suggested by some researchers in this field, the prominence of SAD is typically diagnosed in the age group of 3 to 6 years due to their perception of confused fantasy of dreams and assumed belief in non-living, clearly directing towards the cause and effect psychology of human being.
SAD may also have some relation with inheritance as of its reported linkage to a larger disposition in the children of parents who themselves had suffered the disorder in their childhood.
Diverse opinion exists about SAD's presence in boys and girls.
Some opine of equal number of patients undergoing treatment for the disorder, while some others forward opinion of a double number of girls as many boys are affected.
This may not reveal a correct picture since the boys find it more uncomfortable to discuss their problem and bear with it longer before seeking help.
The relative causes for those who suffer are different due to influence of various social stimulations.
The symptom of the fear of separation is slightly lower in adolescent stage than in childhood.
Children of 2 to 4 years of age, who are afraid to be alone, scared of loud noise, darkness, injury, animals and imaginary subjects due to inconsistency of grooming and raising habits, may bloom up as SAD.
In ages 3 to 6 years there seem to be predominance of imaginary nonexistent understandings.
A little older group of children, above 8 years, continue to dwell upon the fears already embedded in their minds, accentuated with fear of divorce, death in family, bodily injuries, criticism; and these are likely to prolong until their teens.
In age between 11 and 12 years children may start getting scared of kidnapping, injections and lone presence in the darkness.
A 13 year old may become acrophobic (fearing heights) and the same may be the situation with an adolescent.
In the ages of 14 to 18 years children may develop wide range of rational fears like terrorism, plane or car crash, sexual relations, public speaking, school or college performance, crowds, gossips and divorce in addition to what he or she might have already obsessed with.
The situation of SAD is more pronounced with children who have encountered being very focused on perceived judgment by peers and family members.