What is Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Separation anxiety disorder is a common psychological disorder, especially in children and adolescents, often manifesting as excessive attachment, fear of abandonment, and intense anxiety and distress when separated from parents or familiar people. Separation anxiety disorder may have adverse effects on a child’s school, social, and family life, thus requiring timely treatment.
Advantages of Self-Psychological Therapy
Self-psychological therapy is a more flexible and convenient treatment method that does not require visiting a psychologist’s clinic but can be conducted at home. For some children, going to the psychologist’s office can be challenging, and they may feel uncomfortable or resistant. Therefore, self-psychological therapy has become a useful way for children to develop their emotional self-regulation abilities.
Self-Psychological Therapy Methods for Separation Anxiety
Cognitive Restructuring
The core of separation anxiety disorder is cognitive distortion, excessive worry about separation or feared events. Thus, cognitive restructuring is an effective method for treating separation anxiety disorder. Helping children understand that some fears are exaggerated “danger” encourages children to explore the truth, enhance their sense of psychological security, and rationalize their thinking.
Deep Breathing
When facing separation anxiety symptoms, have the child close their mouth, take a deep breath, hold for 5 seconds, and then exhale slowly. This can help the child lower their heart rate and relax muscles. Practice in everyday situations like when walking too fast, feeling overly excited, or emotionally down.
Imaginary Training
Imagining is another highly effective therapeutic method. Guide the child’s imagination to create a safe and comfortable mental image, allowing the child to feel loved and protected. This training helps alleviate the child’s separation fears. Additionally, children can imagine confidently resolving issues and overcoming difficulties when experiencing separation symptoms.
The above are three methods for self-treating separation anxiety disorder. Remember, self-treatment is not perfect, and children need support and encouragement from parents or other adults. Parents can practice treatment skills with their children to create a positive environment. If the child continues to struggle or symptoms worsen, consider seeking professional therapeutic help.
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