9: Anxiety: Separation Anxiety

Separating from a loved one can be an overwhelming experience for some children. It can be quite normal for children to experience these emotions. It actually reaches a peak at around 18 months when a child is still adapting to strangers and new people. If it persists beyond this age, or if it starts to create avoidant behaviour such as missing school, we might call this a separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of anxiety in children. About 4% of pre-schoolers and school-aged children develop a separation anxiety disorder. In this podcast, Maddison Pike, a paediatric psychologist, will expand on the common signs of separation anxiety disorder and the management principals to make this process easier and less traumatic. She will also discuss the role of psychology in helping children overcome their fear of separation