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The Psychodynamic Significance of Separation Anxiety

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Separation Anxiety in Adulthood

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Abstract

Consistent with a psychoanalytic understanding of conscious awareness and unconscious conflict underlying emotional distress and behavior, people with separation anxiety tend to be uncomfortably aware of their concerns for the welfare of others and their fears of engaging in activities with people they perceive as threatening even when these are normative and necessary such as school or work. They often believe that a change in circumstances would alter their discomfort and behavior. However, when close relations or institutions demand that the individual overcome their resistance to engage in developmentally normative activities, or when they are suffering from depressed mood, or impaired self-esteem and anxiety they finally present for treatment. Recent research and a psychoanalytic integration of the psychobiological origins of attachment, the development from early mother–infant symbiosis through separation individuation, and an expanded understanding of the role of attachment on development of identity and self-regulation has led to recent identification and study of separation anxiety in adulthood. Adults may experience a re-emergence of childhood SAD or they may develop new concerns about threats of separation with later trauma. Early insufficient parenting lacking in attunement, with poor parental reflective functioning may lead to impaired development of trust, difficulties with identity development and self-regulation as well as separation anxiety per se. Traumatic experiences, and systemic strain such as poor access to necessary resources may activate the separation/attachment system leading to new separation fears. Persistent childhood SAD or new onset adult SAD can detrimentally affect parenting which influences the intergenerational transmission of SAD and fosters a sense of dangerousness within close relationships. The relationship between therapist and patient serves as a valuable opportunity to observe and explore such feelings and fantasies that arise and illuminate how they have led to symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Gabrielle Silver

  2. Psychiatry and Behavioral Science (PRIME), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Barbara Milrod

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  1. Gabrielle Silver
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  2. Barbara Milrod
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Stefano Pini

  2. Psychiatry and Behavioral Sc. (PRIME), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Barbara Milrod

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Silver, G., Milrod, B. (2023). The Psychodynamic Significance of Separation Anxiety. In: Pini, S., Milrod, B. (eds) Separation Anxiety in Adulthood. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37446-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37446-3_3

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