separation anxiety
Fear of parting
Separation anxiety is distress experienced when a person or animal is separated from someone they are strongly attached to.
In children, it typically manifests as crying, clinging, or tantrums when a parent leaves, and is considered a normal developmental phase in early childhood.
In adults, separation anxiety disorder involves excessive fear about being apart from attachment figures that interferes with daily functioning.
Dogs are particularly prone to separation anxiety, often becoming destructive or distressed when left alone.
Forming close connections
- closenessState of proximity
- attachment theoryStudy of emotional bonds
- secure baseReliable attachment figure
- emotional bondAffective tie between people
dependence · caregiver · parent-child · maternal · paternal · nurturing · clinginess · object permanence
Act of leaving permanently
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- worryTroubled mental state
foreboding · catastrophizing · getting lost · danger · hypervigilance · worst-case · intrusive thoughts
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- cryingEmotional tear release
- tantrumsOutbursts of childish anger
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
sobbing · clinging · inconsolable · hyperventilation · trembling · nausea · stomachache · nightmares
Complete separation from others
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- disconnectionState of being severed
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
- longingIntense, persistent desire
homesickness · pining · yearning · aching · heartsick · bereft · alone · left behind
Stage of learning walking
- infancyEarliest period of life
- preschoolEarly childhood educational program
- milestonesNotable points of progress
- daycareChild supervision facility
babysitter · sleepover · camp · outgrowing · age-appropriate · transitional period · individuation · autonomy
Absence of organization
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- treatmentCare for an ailment
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
exposure therapy · desensitization · medication · SSRI · psychiatrist · psychologist · intervention · assessment
bonding
Forming close connections
- closenessState of proximity
- attachment theoryStudy of emotional bonds
- secure baseReliable attachment figure
emotional bond · dependence · caregiver · parent-child · maternal · paternal · nurturing · clinginess · object permanence · transitional object
abandonment
Act of leaving permanently
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
worry · foreboding · catastrophizing · getting lost · danger · hypervigilance · worst-case · intrusive thoughts
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
hysteria · sobbing · clinging · inconsolable · hyperventilation · trembling · nausea · stomachache · nightmares · school refusal
isolation
Complete separation from others
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- disconnectionState of being severed
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
longing · homesickness · pining · yearning · aching · heartsick · bereft · alone · left behind · waiting
toddlerhood
Stage of learning walking
- infancyEarliest period of life
- preschoolEarly childhood educational program
- milestonesNotable points of progress
daycare · babysitter · sleepover · camp · outgrowing · age-appropriate · transitional period · individuation · autonomy · independence
disorder
Absence of organization
CBT · exposure therapy · desensitization · medication · SSRI · psychiatrist · psychologist · intervention · assessment · DSM
- attachment traumaattachment disorder, attachment issues, insecure attachment, anxious attachment, avoidant attachment
- developmentgrowth, progress, advancement, expansion, improvement
- parentinggentle parenting, child, mom, children, kids
- Anxietynervousness, panic, worry, dread, uneasiness
- baby carebottles, bottle feeding, pacifiers, cribs, baby oil
- child developmentbaby, toddler, newborn, infancy, milestones
separation anxietyindependence
Freedom from external control
self-reliance · autonomy · self-sufficiency · individuation · healthy boundaries
separate, anxiety, separated, separation, separating, inseparable, separable, separations, inseparably