separation anxiety

American  

noun

1. the normal fear and apprehension expressed by infants when removed from their mothers or approached by strangers.

2. any similar reaction in later life caused by separation from familiar surroundings or close friends or family.

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separation anxiety British  

noun

1. psychoanal a state of distress felt at the prospect of being separated from a familiar or beloved person

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Example Sentences

She added that some dogs also suffered from separation anxiety, or were unable to be around other dogs and cats, or were unsafe around children.

From BBC

“As a parent, it’s hard to miss those pivotal moments,” she said of the separation anxiety that many children feel when their parents are working and unavailable.

From Los Angeles Times

That can put them on edge and heighten their separation anxiety, Langan said, and if their owners are depressed or grief-stricken about loss and uncertainty, the animals absorb those emotions too.

From Los Angeles Times

At the heart of this guilt is often separation anxiety — a reality shaped by the travel demands of playing in the WNBA.

From Los Angeles Times

In the two months since the fires, children have been are experiencing meltdowns, sleep issues and separation anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times