stranger anxiety vs separation anxiety

[coconut lime]

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how do you differentiate between the 2? i feel like i always narrow it down to those 2 choices, and then pick the wrong one. for example, on the released items, exam 1, question number 2....basically a 10-mo. old infant who was fine with his grandma 2 months ago, but now starts crying. i figured separation anxiety because he's not with his mom, and anyway the grandma is not a "stranger" so it wouldnt be stanger anxiety. but that was wrong! argh!

 

[AlexRusso]

Usually when they want you to answer separation anxiety they will present a case where the kid starts crying when you take him away from mom.

When they want you to answer stranger anxiety they present a case where the kid starts crying when someone other than his mom approaches.

So gotta see if the kid cries when someone comes close or when he is physically separated from mom. Aslo stranger anxiety comes earlier (7mo) than separation anxiety 11(mo) and both should go away by 3. If the kid still has separation anxiety at 3 thats a problem. So look at the age of the patient in question. Hope that helps some.

 

[mjl1717]

Separation anxiety also occurs again later about age 4 when kid is about to begin school

 

[AlexRusso]

Separation anxiety also occurs again later about age 4 when kid is about to begin school

At this age it would be considered Separation Anxiety DISORDER and would be pathological.

 

[babinski bob]

At this age it would be considered Separation Anxiety DISORDER and would be pathological.

I agree. And I think this is an important distinction to make that Alex brought up. Separation anxiety (classically mo 9-14) and stranger anxiety (classically ~mo 5-9) are NORMAL processes of childhood development. When the situation occurs that mjl mentioned, that's ABNORMAL and considered separation anxiety DISORDER.