Separation Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
It's understandable if you might think there's no need to feel concerned about children going through separation anxiety, given school closures and many parents being either out of work or working from home. Stony Brook Medicine Child and Adolescent Psychologists Jennifer Keluskar, PhD, and Debra Reicher, PhD, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Judith Crowell, MD, explain some of the potential challenges and obstacles that the COVID-19 pandemic may present for children with separation anxiety and provide helpful tips to manage it.
OCD in the Time of COVID-19
If ever there was an event that made obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) behavior seem “normal,” the COVID-19 pandemic, with its calls for extra vigilant sanitary and social-distancing measures is it. Jennifer Keluskar, PhD, a Stony Brook child and adolescent psychologist explains why validating your child’s anxiety emotional state during this time is helpful — whether they’ve been diagnosed with OCD or not — and offers advice to guide you and your family through this challenging time.
OCD/COVID-19: Resources for Kids, Teens, and Families
If the youth in your life experience Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or a related disorder, you may notice their symptoms getting worse or more intense. Kids may not have the words to talk about what they are feeling or going through, so it’s especially important for parents to check in with their kids and keep an eye on how they may be reacting. The International OCD Foundation provides some tips and resources for parents with children living with OCD to manage this stressful time.