Usually found in children and animals, anxieties surrounding separation and detachment are common. While understandable through dependable relationships, the diagnosis of separation anxiety is however overlooked in adults.
The sad reality is, many adults do experience the symptoms of separation anxiety, yet through the stigma of mental health issues, keep quiet instead of speaking out.
Separation anxiety is a serious diagnosis, which can significantly impact all areas of life. As adults, we’re expected to be independent and to have the capabilities to direct life with autonomy.
However, those suffering from separation anxiety, which can be caused through trauma, pre-existing mental health issues and extreme loneliness, deviate from societal expectations, making it difficult for them to speak out. This isolation can also lead to drug and alcohol abuse which is used as as way to self-medicate the symptoms of separation anxiety, leading to dual diagnosis treatment being needed.
Detachment anxieties are fear-based, which can be very difficult to control once a connection between separation and anxiety are made. Manifesting through a range of precise symptoms, including the inability to be alone, worry around the wellbeing of loved ones, and extreme lows through independence, separation anxiety in adults can damage relationships, livelihoods and mental and physical humans.
Such symptoms are involuntary, yet change can be a voluntary action if you’re struggling. Here’s how treatment can help you here at Asana Lodge, along with some FAQs to offer expectations of our treatment services and recovery routes.
Socialisation and engagement are a part of life. Yet, to a point where such connections are causing you anxiety and has led to addiction, living a quality life will be tough. Get the help you deserve through dual diagnosis treatment.
Separation anxiety in adults
Separation anxiety in adults is more common than expected, especially where pre-existing anxiety-related disorders are active. While separation issues are usually found in children and animals, as the development of independence is yet to be experienced, separation anxiety in adults is different.
Through adulthood, autonomy is a trait in which most can experience. A lack of independence, therefore, isn’t the causation of separation anxiety. Trauma, distress and ill-health are however causations of separation anxiety in adults, where pressure on the brain amounts to fear-based reactions.
Once a traumatic or distressing trigger has been experienced, how such experiences are dealt with can either decrease or increase the development of anxiety, which is linked to loneliness or relationship issues, can also amount to addiction.
Symptoms of separation anxiety can include anything from the inability to be alone, excessive worry over the wellbeing of loved ones, to the necessity of constant company. Through its complex formation, symptoms are personal and can be unpredictable, yet mostly are impactful, requiring the need for treatment.
Coping with separation anxiety
Imagine feeling so fearful of being alone. Picture the inability of leaving loved ones. Envision the struggles of such feelings in conjunction with symptoms of anxiety and low confidence. This is the realism of separation anxiety as a disorder, which can be very difficult to cope with.
The consequences of such symptoms are linked with further anxiety-related symptoms, substance abuse, unhealthy habits and with broken relationships, all making it even harder to cope with anxiety.
In fact, there is a vicious cycle attached to detachment issues, where the fear of loneliness can aggravate such symptoms, yet down to such symptoms, being alone is a risk. Through the challenges of coping with separation anxiety and its cycle, treatment is the only answer to management.
Dual diagnosis treatment here at Asana Lodge
With strong symptoms of anxiety, also linked with detachment issues, treatment is necessary as, without intervention, physical and psychological health risks are high. Those with separation anxiety may turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to self-medicate, which means that dual diagnosis treatment may be needed.
Separation anxiety and addiction, if untreated, can develop into further mental health issues and obsessive behaviours, can adapt functioning of the body, and can also have social impacts such as drug use, all making a quality life difficult to manage.
By accepting dual diagnosis treatment, those risks can be reverted, while also improving quality of life through education, suppression and management. Possible through dual diagnosis treatment, here at Asana Lodge we offer personalised programmes to meet the underlying triggers of symptoms.
We also work to our client’s needs to ensure that a holistic and comprehensive rate of recovery can be aimed for.
Treatment for separation anxiety and substance abuse predominantly focuses on psychological intervention, where withdrawal, cognitive behavioural therapy and family therapy will usually be recommended.
Each will work on strengthening support networks, will improve responses to triggers, and will work to change the negatives of independence into positives.
Alongside talking therapies, antidepressants are prescribed in some cases of separation anxiety to suppress symptoms of anxiety and depression.
However, in the majority of cases, talking therapies will be the first port of call to work on brain health and restoration.
Fear is normal. Yet to the degree of separation anxiety can be damaging, which requires the steps of education and maintenance. Understand and manage your fear and addiction through dual diagnosis treatment.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a fear-based response to the idea or experience of being alone, of being detached, and of loneliness for others. It’s attached to generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety, where confidence and independence are usually difficult for sufferers to maintain, down to the crippling fear of isolation, detachment and disengagement.
What are the symptoms of separation anxiety?
Symptoms of separation anxiety can show themselves in different ways, usually combined with the physical signs of anxiety. However, common symptoms include heightened anxiety when alone, the aim to be surrounded by others on a consistent basis, relationship issues down to detachment pressures, the inability to maintain usual life down to fears of loneliness. If you need to be around others, if you cannot control such feelings, if you experience panic, depression and anxiety while alone, and if you worry about those around you being alone, you may benefit from professional support.
Can separation anxiety treatment help?
Yes, separation anxiety treatment is recommended to ease symptoms of anxiety, to offer insights into coping, and to promote greater independence. Treatment will look at the initial trigger of anxiety, and slowly work to change outlooks of such triggers. Dependence will usually form to curb fears. Separation anxiety treatment will desensitise fears by promoting independent exposure, with positivity in mind.
What type of treatment can I complete?
Separation anxiety treatment mainly includes talking therapies and exposure therapies. We prioritise mental restoration here at Asana Lodge, to restore optimal functionality, to reset mindsets and to strengthen personal outlooks. Exposure to cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy, exposure therapy, stress management and wellbeing advice will be beneficial in the case of anxiety. Separation anxiety is complex as it’s a mental health issue which has amounted from anxiety related responses, and soon attached to dependence. Instead of common fixations of drugs and alcohol, it surrounds the need for company and connectivity. In order to empower and reassure, separation anxiety treatment will be recommended, in place to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and promote healthier routine and coping strategies. Experience leading treatments here at Asana Lodge.
