What Is Separation Anxiety?

September 28, 2009
DALLAS - JUNE 18: Jennifer Ross, living in a ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

If you’re going to be returning to work soon after being on maternity leave, you may be concerned that your little one will experience separation anxiety. However, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your baby is comfortable with staying with a new caregiver as you return to work–or go on a much-needed dinner with adult company!

First, it’s important to remember that babies are usually able to adjust to new caregivers, especially when they are young. When a child is younger than six months, he or she is usually able to stay with another babysitter or child care provider during the day as long as their basic needs are being met (i.e. they are being fed, changed, and occasionally coddled).

However, between four and seven months, separation anxiety may occur because babies are starting to understand the principle of object permanence. This means that they are beginning to comprehend that when you’re gone, they do not know when you will return, and will do everything in their power (i.e. tantrums) to make sure that you don’t leave them.

It’s important to prepare your baby for the separation weeks before you know you will be returning to work. Try leaving your baby in the nursery in his or her crib for a few minutes while you leave the room. Pay attention to your baby’s response when you’re not there, and try this for a few days at a time so that your baby will begin to understand the concept that just because you are gone temporarily, you won’t be gone forever.

As your baby grows into a toddler, he or she may experience separation anxiety even more, although they will exhibit other signs that indicate they are growing more independent. One of the best ways to avoid or improve this is to make sure that your little one is exposed to social situations on a regular basis. This way, he or she will not be so taken aback when you have to leave them for short periods of time. Making sure that your baby is around people you can trust, such as longtime friends, parents, or other family members will make your toddler more comfortable when he or she is without you, and you’ll feel better when you have to go off to work as well.

Making sure that you do all you can to treat and prevent separation anxiety in your child may also help to reduce the risk of anxiety disorders in the future. For more great tips and suggestions on how to keep your baby happy and well-adjusted, check out www.kidshealth.org.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
By admin | Posted in Anxiety Disorders | Tagged , , , , | Comments off

Anxiety Disorders – An Overview

September 12, 2009
RAIKIA, INDIA - APRIL 10: A man looks on as h...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

If you have been having trouble sleeping lately, or haven’t been eating regularly, you may have one or more anxiety disorders due to extreme stress. Here is some information about the different types of conditions and disorders that are associated with stress, as well as ways that you can treat them.

There are five main types of anxiety disorders–generalized anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social phobia. If you are generally anxious, this could be due to high-stress situations you may be experiencing at home or on the job, and chemical imbalances in the brain caused by food or lack of amino acids could play a role in your condition as well. Individuals with OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder, have to have things in their home or office a certain way, or will develop compulsive habits such as opening and closing doors a set number of times each day, or washing their hands several times consecutively. PTSD is the body’s reaction to a dangerous or painful event that may have taken place in a patient’s life. Children can experience this disorder as well, and the condition may be characterized by not talking for months at a time, as well as symptoms like bed wetting and acting out in school.

If you want to try natural treatments for anxiety disorders, you may want to try supplements like 5-HTP, which is a very effective treatment for getting rid of depression. You can also try SAM-e, which helps to increase the levels of serotonin in the body and improve your mood. Taking more B vitamins has also been proven to help with anxiety disorders, so taking a multivitamin that is high in B12 and B6, as well as purchasing separate dosages of the supplements may help. Your diet may also be contributing to the level of stress or nervousness that you feel. If you’re eating foods that are high in sugar and artificial dyes, your body may be reacting negatively to these substances; this is quite common in children, so a change in diet may definitely help.

There are a number of new treatments on the market for disorders associated with nervousness and social disorders, so if you or your child is experiencing symptoms, be sure to talk to your family physicians to get referrals to licensed therapists that can help you to work out your feelings and uncover the reasons for your nervousness or sadness. More traditional medications such as Praxil and Prozac are also available at most doctor’s offices, so medication in addition to therapy may be what you need to start–and complete–the healing process. For more information on anxiety disorders and how you can get the help you need, visit www.nimh.org or www.webmd.com.

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
By admin | Posted in Anxiety Disorders | Tagged , , , | Comments off