Nighttime separation anxiety is a common occurrence in any young children mostly in the toddler years. They fear the idea of being away from their mothers, or care givers, especially at night before going to bed. Although it is not considered to be medically dangerous and could be treated with hands-on nurturing, training and discipline, the condition may merit serious psychological treatments if the behavior becomes disruptive and debilitating to the child.
Some symptoms of nighttime separation anxiety may include extreme distress, unreasonable worries and withdrawal from activities. Some young children experience nightmares every so often. They also complain of headaches or stomachaches, although some may be imaginary just to get the undivided attention and sympathy of the mother or care giver.
To treat nighttime separation anxiety, experts have suggested several approaches that are fit for the young child. These methods may vary depending on the child’s coping abilities. Mothers and care givers are discouraged from being overly-assertive by forcefully making the child deal with the problem by his self, as with exposure therapy. This may cause trauma and undue stress to the child.
One suggested method is cognitive behavioral therapy wherein the child is taught to identify his fears and correct them. If e fears that his mother will not return one separated at bedtime, the mother has to make sure that he returns to his side every once in a while to assure him that nothing should be feared by her departure. Some distractions may also prove effective like playing his favorite music, or putting a favorite toy by his bedside to serve as a reminder of his mother. A positive approach may also help as in talking about the benefits of sleeping alone or the good things that will happen when he wakes up the following morning.
Dealing with nighttime separation anxiety does not have to be a traumatic event. Nurturing and discipline should be kept in balance for the child to develop a healthy outlook.
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