How do you deal with seperation anxiety?

By: Dr. Jennifer B. Baxt, DMFT, NCC, DCC

After going through the first little while with constantly looking after a child who is completely dependent on its parent, leaving the child alone for the first time can be difficult for both the child and the parent. It would be nice to go out for some fun without the kid in tow, but actually doing it can be difficult because the parent, especially the mother, can have a hard time doing this. The first time has to come sometime and sooner is better than later. Eventually, the child is going to have to be on their own and the parent will have to learn to let go and let the child find some of their independence.

Leaving the child with another caregiver for the first time can be stressful. The worries start popping into mind about whether the caregiver is able to give the child the attention they need, whether the facility is as safe as it is supposed to be and so on. Putting these worries to rest is probably the best way to disperse a parent’s worst fear of something serious happening to their child. First, one can take the time to sit down and talk with the caregiver. This will give the parent the opportunity to find out more about the person who will be taking care of their child, and this will also give the parent the opportunity to share their child’s dislikes, likes and needs with the caregiver. The next step would be to visit the place where your child is going to be cared for, if he/she is not being looked after in your own home, to rest the worries about an unsafe environment. If the first two steps work out well and the parent feels the caregiver is going to be the right one to look after their child, then the parent will have to get their child used to the new caregiver. This can easily be done by taking the child for brief visits with the new caregiver and then leaving them there for a short time. This will give the child time to become familiar with the caregiver and the new environment so that it will be easier for them to be left there. They will also quickly get the idea that their parent will be back to get them later and that they are not being abandoned there. Building a friendly relationship with the caregiver will also help to give security to the child because they see that their parent is alright with this person and that this person is safe.

There are situations where separation anxiety can be a more difficult issue to deal with. Online therapist can offer some helpful advice and suggestions in how to deal with both the parent’s and child’s separation anxiety, so that both can be comfortable when they have to spend time apart. An online counselor can being contacted by parents all the time in regards to this, because it can be such a hard step to take. There are some children who throw huge fits and the parents will feel too guilty to leave the child alone. Through online therapy, we can work with the parents to make the transition easier for both them and their child.

Leaving the child with another caregiver for the first time can be stressful. The worries start popping into mind about whether the caregiver is able to give the child the attention they need, whether the facility is as safe as it is supposed to be and so on.

Jennifer Baxt is the owner of CompleteCounselingSolutions.com which offers a variety of online counseling services. If you would like to know more about Jennifer or any of our online therapists, visit our website.

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