What is separation anxiety in adults?
Adults Separation Anxiety Disorder (ASAD) manifests as an intense and persistent fear of being separated from a significant person, often due to the fear that something bad might happen to either themselves or the significant person when they are apart. This issue can severely interfere with an individual’s ability to function in daily life, affecting their work, relationships, and overall well-being. Although more commonly observed in children, it can also occur in adults, showing some differences due to the greater complexity of adult relationships and responsibilities. In children, separation anxiety is usually directed toward primary caregivers, whereas in adults, it can be triggered by the absence or separation from a partner, child, close friend, or any other significant figure.
Common symptoms of separation anxiety in adults
The symptoms experienced by someone with ASAD are varied and can significantly impact their life. Some of the most common include:
- Distress and intense feelings of anguish when anticipating or experiencing separation from the person or people they are attached to.
- Excessive fear that something bad will happen to the significant person, leading to constant worry about accidents or unfortunate events that might separate them.
- Fear of being alone or independent.
- Resistance to separation, refusing to leave the attached person, and showing great difficulty in facing separation.
- Avoiding daily activities due to fear of separation, such as going to work or studying.
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, or gastrointestinal discomfort during separation.
- Difficulty sleeping and recurrent nightmares about separation.
When and why does separation anxiety occur?
This disorder has typically been considered one that begins in childhood or adolescence, as indicated by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), which only allowed it to be diagnosed if it started before age 18 and included it within the group of disorders with onset in childhood or adolescence. This has led to it being a little-recognized and underdiagnosed disorder in adults. However, more current epidemiological studies have shown that about 6% of adults experience this problem, and many develop symptoms after age 18. Therefore, it may have started in childhood or adolescence and persisted into adulthood or begun in adulthood without signs of having had the disorder in previous stages. In the latest edition (DSM-5), this age limit was removed, and the disorder is currently included within a broader category of anxiety disorders.
On some occasions, ASAD can be triggered after a stressful or traumatic situation in a person’s life, generally related to a loss (death of a loved one, a breakup, a change of residence, etc.). Experiencing adversities in childhood, such as the loss of a loved one, abuse, or neglect, can increase the vulnerability to developing this disorder. However, it is not only the context that influences it; there are also various personal factors considered risk factors for the appearance of ASAD, such as having a low tolerance for uncertainty, high sensitivity to anxiety, an anxious attachment style, and the presence of other mental disorders, especially other anxiety or mood disorders.
How to overcome it?
To treat separation anxiety, a thorough evaluation of the person and their context must first be conducted. Each case is unique, and so is its intervention. Here are some of the most effective general strategies for treating this issue:
- Learn about the separation anxiety disorder and how it works. This can help develop greater awareness of the problem, as well as greater empathy and understanding of oneself.
- Learn to identify thoughts that generate or intensify the fear of separation and modify them to be more functional and reality based.
- Gradually expose oneself to feared situations related to separation in a controlled environment so that the anxiety gradually decreases.
- Learn and practice strategies that help manage stress and anxiety, such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness.
- Foster a solid social support network for the person, including more people besides the person they fear separating from. In many cases, it will be important to have the collaboration of that or those significant people so that they do not unintentionally reinforce the behaviors that the person with ASAD does and that contribute to maintaining the fear of separation.
- In some cases, especially severe ones, the use of psychotropic drugs can be considered in combination with psychological therapy to help manage symptoms.
- If there are other problems accompanying ASAD, such as other anxiety disorders, they should also be addressed to minimize their interference with separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety disorder is a problem that can cause a lot of distress and become very limiting. If you feel identified and think we can help you, do not hesitate to contact us.
References
Baldwin D. S., Gordon R., Abelli M., Pini S. (2016). The separation of adult separation anxiety disorder. CNS Spectrums, 21, 289–294.
Zhou, H. (2024). Risk factors relevant to adult separation anxiety disorder. Transactions on Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 5, 473–480.
Aina Fiol Veny
Psychologist Col. Num. B-02615