Fear of loss and separation overshadows the lives of many affected individuals and their closest family members. This self-help book clarifies the causes, provides practical impulses for overcoming the disorder, and supports relatives with information and behavioral tips.

Mothers sink into depression when their adult children leave the family home. Men monitor their wives via mobile phone at every turn. Separations leave wounds that seem impossible to heal. It is the fear of loss that triggers such clingy behaviors—much to the distress of those affected and their immediate surroundings. The author, an experienced psychotherapist, reveals what lies behind excessive separation anxiety and how to tackle it in this book.

• It shows how deeply rooted fears of loss are in childhood.
• It describes how old scars can reopen with new relationship problems.
• It provides concrete support for behavioral change.
• It informs when psychotherapy becomes necessary.

Education and practical support are not only for people with separation anxiety but also for their partners, children, and friends, who are often left bewildered by such a disorder. Thought-provoking impulses, exercises, and tips from therapists help with the first steps toward an independent life.