Many people know what it means to be separated from a loved one. Factors that may develop anxiety are changes in family environment, such as birth, divorce or death. Additionally it may be minor or major medical conditions. The mental pain arises when in our heart we continue to yearn for their presence while in our mind we know the separation is as it is, and perhaps must be. It is difficult for the heart to accept the reality at the same time as the mind.
A different example of heartache is a family losing a loved one while the person is alive, and physically well. One such example may be incarceration, while another could be boarding schools. In both cases the same or similar feelings of separation anxiety may develop. This occurs when continued distress exists upon separation from the object of affection. There is persistent worrying about losing the object of affection. There may be sleep disturbance and a second guessing one's involvement, if any.
Anxiety Disorder is differentiated from separation anxiety in that the latter is considered a normal process of toddlers with onset around 8 months and increases until 13 -15 or 18 – 36 months. Anxiety Disorder can occur at any age beyond this normal range of development, involve both genders and even animals.
Experiencing these feelings when the person is alive is perhaps even more painful when we lose them and we know they are alive and yet our access is restricted or forbidden altogether. If the one we are pining after does not reciprocate our affection, this only adds to the pain. As always, seek a healthy outlet to share what you think and feel with someone trustworthy to keep your confidences.
