Separation anxiety disorder is a mental disorder which is characterized by excessive anxiety on separation from someone with whom the individual shares a close emotional bond. This disorder is present in all age groups of people and is considered to be the most common of all childhood anxiety disorders, reportedly occurring with a prevalence of 4 percent of children population. It is estimated to affect 7 percent of adults and is often characterized by unrealistic fears, oversensitivity, self-consciousness, nightmares and chronic anxiety.

Individuals affected by separation anxiety disorder are anxious in new situations as they lack self-reliance and confidence. They often come across as extremely sensitive, withdrawn, shy, submissive, dejected, and depressed and may easily break down. These individuals are overly dependent on someone else, most often their parents and are unable to perform well in school and other spheres of day to day activities when separated from them.

Symptoms of Separation anxiety disorder:

Extreme anxiety is experienced by the individual about separation from someone they are attached with such as parents or grandparents and home surroundings.

The individual experiences constant worry and is tensed about losing the subject they are attached with.

They are also worried about the event that may lead to the separation such as going to school/ boarding school or divorce.

They often have nightmares about separation.

They are constantly worried about being abandoned or left alone after the separation occurs.

In most of the cases of separation anxiety disorder, the stressor is highly distinguishable such as the death of a pet or close family relative. When individuals with this disorder are actually separated from their attachment figures they tend to react submissively and worry constantly about the well being of those they are attached with. They may give in to melancholic fears such as worrying that the attachment figure may become ill or die. Such individuals become excessively demanding and show clingy behavior towards adults.

Separation anxiety disorder is more common in girls and the disorder is not very stable in children. Some children even go on to exhibit school refusal problems and continue to have adjustment difficulty over time and make difficult work and life adjustments later. They often throw tantrums and perform poorly when separated fro their attachment figures.

Comorbidity with other disorders:

Research has shown that children with separation anxiety disorder are much more likely to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, panic disorder and other disorders later on.