What are the symptoms of separation anxiety disorder?
Nov 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder generally include excessive fear of separation, frequent worries about negative events, refusal to leave attachment figures, and physical discomfort during separation. Patients experience intense fear regarding separation from their attachment figures, such as fear of going to school, going to work, or going out alone. They show significant anxiety before separation, repeatedly confirm the duration of separation, and may even attempt to prevent separation through crying, clinging, or other behaviors.
Separation anxiety disorder typically manifests as excessive fear of separation, frequent worry about negative events, refusal to leave attachment figures, physical discomfort during separation, sleep-related difficulties, and other symptoms. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Excessive fear of separation: Patients experience intense fear regarding separation from their attachment figures, such as being afraid to go to school, work, or venture out alone. They show obvious anxiety before separation, repeatedly confirm the timing of separation, and may even attempt to prevent separation through crying, clinging, or pleading.
2. Frequent worry about negative events: Patients persistently worry about potential dangers occurring after separation, such as fearing that their attachment figure might have an accident, fall ill, or fail to return. Even without concrete evidence, they struggle to control these negative thoughts, resulting in prolonged internal tension.
3. Refusal to leave attachment figures: Patients actively avoid separating from their attachment figures—for example, refusing to sleep alone or visit unfamiliar places. They require the presence of their attachment figure to carry out daily activities and become restless when apart, feeling a strong urge to return to them.
4. Physical discomfort during separation: Before or during separation, patients may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, or palpitations. These symptoms lack underlying organic causes and tend to gradually subside upon reuniting with the attachment figure, only to reappear during subsequent separations.
5. Sleep-related difficulties: Patients may find it difficult to fall asleep alone and require the presence of an attachment figure to drift off. They often wake up frequently during the night to check whether the attachment figure is nearby and may experience nightmares related to separation, leading to poor sleep quality.
If multiple symptoms listed above are observed in oneself or others and continue to affect daily functioning, timely professional evaluation by a mental health specialist is recommended to prevent long-term progression. Providing understanding and companionship can help alleviate anxiety during separations and support gradual adaptation to appropriate separation scenarios.
