It is helpful for a parent to accompany the child during medical examinations or treatments whenever possible. When a parent is not available, prior exposure to the situation, such as visiting the doctor's office before a test, will be helpful for the child. In these situations, many physicians will recommend the child taking a sedating medication. Otherwise, the child may display severe anxiety by begging, crying, screaming, and resisting treatment.
Some hospitals provide Child Life specialists who explain procedures and medical conditions to children of all ages. If your child is particularly anxious and needs significant medical care, you may consider asking your health care provider about such services.
Explain the situation and experience to the child and assure him or her that a parent is waiting, and specifically, explain WHERE the parent is waiting.
For older children, effective treatments may include counseling for the parents and child, changes in parenting techniques, and anti-anxiety medications.
Treatment for certain cases may involve individual psychotherapy, family education, and family therapy.
For younger children, there are courses of action a parent or caregiver can take:
- Try to schedule departures after naps and mealtimes since your child will be more susceptible to separation anxiety when tired, hungry, or sick.
- Prepare your child before the separation occurs by reassuring him that you will return. Treat the anxiety seriously and react with understanding, patience, and confidence: "I know you don't want me to go away right now, but I will be back after school." Do not tease: "You're so silly to cry about it." Or sound annoyed: "You make me feel so mad when you cry like that!"
- Stay calm, matter-of-fact and, sympathetic: "I know you are upset that I have to go into the kitchen, but I need to cook the chicken for dinner." Go into the kitchen with the child on your leg if necessary.
- Create feelings of security for your toddler by giving lots of love and attention. Young children learn faster when they receive necessary attention and affection than by the parent's taking a "learn the hard way" attitude.
- Practice short-term separations around the house. As you go into the next room out of sight, talk to your child: "Where did mommy go?" When you return, let her know: "Here I am!" These repeated separations might help your child learn that your disappearance is only temporary.
- Do not sneak away from your child. While tempting, this approach will only lead to more difficulty the next time you leave.
- Maintain control over your own anxieties. If your child senses or sees your distress at leaving, that will tell him that there must be something wrong.
Separation Anxiety. Last reviewed 10/10/2006
Sources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Revised
- Touchpoints: Your Child's Emotional and Behavioral Development
- What to Expect the Toddler Years
- Psychiatric comorbidity in children after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia
- DSM-IV Made Easy: The Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis
- National Institutes of Health - National Library of Medicine
