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Today is World Mental Health Day 2020, which supports mental health for all. On this important awareness day, and during a year like no other, we talk about the separation anxiety that can be caused by a global pandemic. We discuss positive coping strategies for preserving good mental health, and how to manage and minimise the distress that can come from being separated from someone, or somewhere, that you love…
What are the signs of separation anxiety?
Whether it’s children being separated from their parents with a return to school, or elderly relatives unable to see their families and friends due to government social distancing rules, separation can be difficult. Being kept apart from a particular person or loved one can result in extreme anxiety and distress.
The symptoms of separation anxiety include:
Can I get separation anxiety by being away from home?
Yes, you can. As human beings, we’re not only emotionally attached to people and pets, but also to the places and familiar surroundings we have a special bond with.
The pandemic has seen most of us spending a large part of this year at home, surrounded by what helps to make us feel secure. Leaving these familiar places to return to work, school or previous routines can be very difficult.
So, in the same way we can feel separation anxiety when we’re away from our loved ones, we can also feel it when we have to leave the places that feel like our ‘safe haven’.
Tips for handling separation anxiety
Whether you’re a parent wanting to help your child adjust to time apart from you, or an adult seeking ways of coping when you’re away from loved ones, there are some things you can do to help manage separation anxiety:
Helping your child with separation anxiety
How to cope with adult separation anxiety
In adults, separation anxiety can develop after the death of a loved one or following a significant event such as leaving for university or relocating. But the pain of being apart from family and friends in a coronavirus world can also produce extreme sadness and trigger anxiety around separation.
Try the following tips to help you cope:
Finding support for separation anxiety
Positive coping strategies and embracing new approaches can go a long way in helping with your separation anxiety. But if your efforts to reduce the symptoms don’t work, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. If you would like some professional emotional support to help with your anxiety around separation, please get in touch or call us on 02920 103173. We’re here to help and we want you to emerge from this pandemic as healthy and happy as possible.
Call us on 0292 010 3173 or email enquiries@talkinthebay.co.uk