Separation Anxiety – Children, Adults and Dogs

Submitted by philipjubb

Separation anxiety is common in babies between six and twelve months old, and can occur again around eighteen months. They are clingy and cry when the parent leaves the room. This is perfectly normal and these anxiety attacks will lessen as they grow, and their understanding develops.

However for some anxiety will persist into childhood, and the child’s unrealistic worries can show a variety of anxiety symptoms and behaviors, as well as those mentioned above. These include an anxiety attack with tantrums at the thought of being separated from the parent, and therefore refusing to go to school or sleep on their own, disturbing and disruptive behavior, worrying that something will happen to them or their family, claiming to be sick and actual physical illness.

An important part of anxiety treatment for children to help both their physical and emotional well-being is to give them a balanced diet, which does not contain any chemicals or additives. It is also important to help them address their fearful beliefs when the child is calm because an anxious mind will not absorb any rational information.

Separation anxiety can occur in the over eighteens, and show the same type of anxiety attack symptoms as children have, but because of the diagnostic classification system it may be classified as one of the other anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or possibly a mental health problem.

No matter what shape or form anxiety shows it self, treatment is available, and drugs can be offered in the short term to alleviate anxiety symptoms, however some anxiety medication has side effects.

If you have a family pet, then you may be interested to learn that feline depression and dog stress is common. Separation anxiety in any animal denotes an over-dependence on others and a lack of confidence, cats don’t display their misery in the way that anxious dogs do and their depression is less obvious. If you have an oriental breed such as a Burmese or Siamese they are more likely to develop anxiety disorders than the run of the mill, “moggy” or other breeds with stronger temperaments.

Look out for separation anxiety symptoms such as following you from room, distress when you go out, sulking, meowing and hiding, inappropriate elimination, vomiting in your absence, excessive self-grooming, and greeting you like a long lost friend on your return.

Dog behaviour problems are much more noticeable, as well as the anxiety symptoms above, sad dogs howl and bay, and chew on windowsills in a frantic attempt to escape when left alone, and they can cause themselves a serious injury. It is important to realize that anxious and depressed dogs are not displaying these destructive behaviors out of boredom, or to get even because you are going out, but because it needs to find an outlet for its anxiety.

If you have you cat or dog that suffers separation anxiety, or any specific phobia, then always seek advice from your vet, as he will be able to give you advice on how to prepare the animals surroundings, and may even prescribe a drug such as Clomicalm, if he considers this necessary.

Angus has suffered, as have those around him! He has the tee shirt, has walked the walk and can talk the talk. Help is only a click away at http://www.anxietypanicfear.com. Remember there is more than one way to skin a cat and we will be taking a look at more on anxiety and panic attacks in our next article. Untill then http://www.anxietypanicfear.com may help.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com/health/stress/separation-anxiety-children-adults-and-dogs.html