Associated symptoms

In addition to the actual anxiety that occurs with this emotional disorder, other symptoms can also be associated with it. These include: .

Behavioral changes such as loud screaming and outbursts of anger in the face of an impending brief separation, for example on the way to kindergarten,
Physical symptoms, such as abdominal pain and headaches, an upset digestion, up to nausea and vomiting,
Bed-wetting or
A strong loss of appetite.

What are the consequences for the child?

The consequences of fears of loss in childhood for later life can vary greatly and depend largely on the point in time when the fears began to be alleviated. For example, long-term studies have shown that people who suffered from strong fears of loss in their childhood or still do so may have problems in social interaction with other people. These problems consist mainly in the difficulty of forming closer friendships or relationships.

It can also be difficult for those affected to allow physical closeness. Furthermore, there are reports of an increased development of control compulsions or depressions. For these reasons it is important to take these fears seriously if they exceed a certain level and to try to alleviate them in order to prevent possible consequences for the child’s later life. General information on the topic of fear of loss and its consequences as well as therapy options, even in adult life, can be found at Fear of loss

Therapy options

As a general rule, it is never too late to try to alleviate children’s fear of loss. However, it is also important not to draw the conclusion that you want to avoid every situation in which fear of loss occurs in the child. However, these should initially be short enough for the child to recognize the direct connection between the development of the fear and the return of the caregiver.

This will teach the child that the fear is unfounded because the mother or father will always come back.

The focus here is primarily on the relationship between child and parent, with the aim that the child can build trust in the relationship.
There are various approaches to this, which may consist of creating rituals or joint play times, for example.
However, it is also important to try to have a direct conversation with the child and talk about the child’s fears.
In addition, an attempt should be made to create a comfortable and safe home for the child in order to create optimal conditions for this confidence-building process.
Furthermore, the child’s self-confidence should be strengthened, for example by praising certain behaviors.

There are many different remedies that are used in the homeopathic therapy of separation anxiety. Calcium carbonium, for example, is known as a remedy that is used for children who have nightly separation anxiety before going to bed.

On the other hand, Ignatia D12 is used more often in children who react to separation anxiety with physical symptoms (stomach aches, sweating, etc.). Pulsatilla is used when children suffer from severe insecurity coupled with fear of loss. In addition to the three most frequently mentioned homeopathic remedies, there are a number of other remedies from the group of Bach Flowers that are used in connection with fear of loss.

Within the scope of homeopathic treatment of a pronounced fear of loss in children, Bach Flowers are used in addition to the above mentioned remedies. The best known representatives of this group are Which of these remedies is used in a specific case depends mainly on the quality of the fear and the triggering factors. For example, the red chestnut is mainly used for anxieties associated with the fear that something might happen to the parents. The aspen, on the other hand, is used for a rather diffuse, undefined fear.

The red chestnut (Red Chestnut),
The spotted Gauckler flower (Mimulus),
The aspen (Aspen) and
The Oderming (Agrimony).