A person can find separation anxiety help for children that typically have problems being apart from their parents. Separation anxiety disorder is a condition occurring in infants and toddlers after they have forged attachments to their parents or primary caregivers. In most cases, the condition can start around the age of seven months and can continue for a few years if left untreated. The most prominent period of separation anxiety in children occurs between ten and eighteen months. In general, the child will begin to feel increased anxiety when the parent or caregiver is out of sight. The appearance of the parent will provide a sense of peace and calm until the next time the parent leaves. This repetitive pattern can be emotionally exhausting for both the child and the parent. It can often appear at bedtime, when leaving for school, or any other recurring time when a parent will leave the immediate sight of the child. To understand how best to treat the condition, a person should become familiar with the causes.

Separation anxiety is classified as a mental health disorder and most experts believe that the condition is caused by either genetic reasons, environmental problems, or a combination of the two. Children who have a family history of anxiety issues are more prone to develop separation anxiety. In addition, mothers that had excessive stress or anxiety during the pregnancy have been shown to be more likely to have children that exhibit the symptoms of separation anxiety. The condition is most commonly diagnosed by a pediatrician or a child psychologist by means of personal interviews with both the child and each of the individual parents. Following the interview, the doctor will advise the best course of treatment on a case by case basis.

Separation anxiety treatment is most effectively achieved by counseling rather than by using medication options. Many medicines can cause unwanted side effects in children and only deal with the symptoms. On the other hand, professional counseling addresses the underlying problems and treats the disorder and the symptoms. The counselor will often advise behavior modification by rewarding the child for good behavior. It has been proven that positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment when treating separation anxiety. In addition to behavior modifications, the counselor may also engage the child in cognitive behavior therapy. This process allows a child to understand the motivations behind specific thought processes. By understanding these thoughts, the child is better equipped to confront their fears. Also, the child will be more able to recognize when they are experiencing separation anxiety and focus on other activities to deal with those thoughts. In severe cases, medication may be necessary to cure the problem. One medication that has proven effective is fluvoxamine. This medication is classified as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Any child experiencing symptoms of this condition should be taken to a doctor to determine the best course of separation anxiety help.