Separation anxiety

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Did anyone ever experience separation anxiety? I used too especially as a young child. I would hate leaving home firstly, but if I ever got seperated from my mom I would start panicing. I only remember throwing a tantrum twice, but the rest of the time I would keep my distress bottled up - and would only feel relieved once back at home.

Because of this I dreaded school, and went through school life with a lot of anxiety. The funny thing is I do not know, for what specific reason I was anxious, i just was. I just felt uncomfortable away from home, and if outside away from my mom. I could not put my feelings into words, so I could not explain why i didnt want to go to school. My parents wouldnt have understood anyway if I did explain to them. They probably would have scolded me for behaving differently from my older sister, who seemed to enjoy school and playing outside, and visiting my grandparents on her own. (My grandparents stayed in an apartment two storeys above ours)

Has anyone experienced aything similar?????

Yeah, I have this too. When I was brought to preschool I cried in desperation for the first days because I didn't want to separate from my mom, then I started spending most of the time in the kitchen with adult women instead of going out to play with the other kids. When I had my only girlfriend EVERYTIME we had to say goodbye (we lived in different cities) I was SO anxious, I feared as hell I would have never seen her again. Nowdays everytime I say goodbye to a friend of mine is still uncomfortable because a part of me is still afraid that I will remain alone.

I get a bit anxious when I have to be away from girlfriend for a few days.
I've known her since I was like 6 months old, so we're really close and she
just knows how I react to certain things and can understand me more than anyone.

I think that qualifies.

yeah, i had it really bad as a child. i can remember making up all sorts of excuses in first grade so they'd have to send me home. i usually got caught out later, but i didn't care as long as i got home. i was safe at home, things were familiar. i was terrified at school.

oddly, i spent a lot of time playing outside, in the woods and fields near our house, so it wasn't just the "house" that i was wanting. i think it was more to be away from all those other people.

my own kid, bless her heart, went through just the usual phases, i think. i had to work so she had to be in daycare from 11 months old. we moved when she was 4 and had to try out two or three care arrangements in a 1 month period (they kept falling through) and it was traumatic. she doesn't seem to have any particular attachment to "home" though, while i now consider it the place i can go to and shut the world out.

I remember my first time away, it was only for a week or so, but I wasn't bothered by it. The things were just confusing. Other children of my age, washing, I had no idea what to do or how to do it, so I never did. I never sought company. I wonder how I managed it really.

Then there was another time when I was away from everyone, the surprising thing was that at school, no-one would help me, the week away somehow had the other kids on my side. I got confused at when we were leaving for home until someone said to me it was later that day and not the next day as I thought it was. Sometimes I wonder if I was the reason behind the bullying or if it was my sister as I seemed to be OK in comparison - strange.

I just don't over think it

As a child I think I hardly ever experienced seperation anxiety.

I am not sure if I had it, but my son has it.. with daddy! It's a little better though but its still there, hoping by the time he is 5 he will be more or less over it.

It was really bad when I was a little kid. Now it comes and goes. I've traveled a lot on my own, and I've moved on my own to new cities and developed social networks of friends. I find that lately, I only really have it with my wife, but it's been getting better.

I was pretty normal in that respect. Cried for two minutes after Mom left, fine after that. I don't think I did that past age four or five. So much for the stupid "autistics don't attach to their moms" theory. (We do. Securely in most cases.)

Weirdly, for an Aspie I didn't feel homesick when I left college or moved any of the many times I have moved. Well, no, actually I felt homesick for about ten minutes when I first left for college. I remember the feeling, sort of an anxious, out of place feeling. I don't envy those who experience it often.

If I have a secure "home base" it doesn't matter where I am. On the other hand, I melt down in short order after realizing I'm stranded away from home.

My daughter has this BIG TIME. I'm hoping it abates once she starts preschool in a couple of weeks. She's the sort to be clingy even when I'm trying to use the bathroom or working in the kitchen.

She's the one without a diagnosis but I do have to wonder on occasion, especially with a few sensory difficulties and splinter skills.

My daughter has this BIG TIME. I'm hoping it abates once she starts preschool in a couple of weeks. She's the sort to be clingy even when I'm trying to use the bathroom or working in the kitchen.

She's the one without a diagnosis but I do have to wonder on occasion, especially with a few sensory difficulties and splinter skills.