Anxiety Disorder is a normal stage of development in healthy babies occurring around the ages of eight months. It can continue and peak from anything around thirteen to fifteen months to eighteen to thirty-six months.

Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder is a psychological condition where the symptoms of separation (excessive and often disabling distress when faced with the actual or perceived separation from major attachment figures.) becomes a problem in everyday living for both Adults and Children. Where the separation, impairs the person’s ability to conduct their lives and relationships in healthy ways. Separation Anxiety Disorder can be characterized by some of the following symptoms:

Excessive fear of being alone, without the subject of attachment (significant other, Mother, Father, Lover, Brother, carer etc.)
Distress when separated from the subject of attachment.
Persistent, excessive worrying, about losing the subject of attachment.
Persistent fear or reluctance to go to sleep without being near a major attachment figure.
Nightmares about separation. Panic and anxiety attacks.

Attachment Theory

Attachment Theory in romantic relationships has been recognized since the late 1980s. The core principles of attachment theory can apply in adult relationships as much as they can in Children/Primary Carer relationships.

Four types of attachments styles have been identified, these are: Secure, anxious preoccupied, dismissive avoidant, and fearful avoidant. Anxiety separation can be very destructive in relationships and be debilitating for both sufferer and their partners.

At its worse it can contribute to many anxiety related symptoms e.g. panic attacks, hot flushes, nightmares, comfort eating, and constant crying. Often within these anxieties there is an obsessive-compulsive element (phoning, texting, emailing) whereby the sufferer has to locate where their attachment figure is. Once this is done there is tremendous reassurance (like having completed a compulsion as in OCD; hand washing etc) only for the cycle to start all over again during the next, or anticipation of the next separation.

CBT and other Therapies can assist with the recovery of the above anxieties. Please contact me on 01732 453758/07882 369 663 or email enquiries@psychotherapysevenoaks.com for a free half hour introductory consultation.