During infancy, all mammals suffer distress if they are separated from their mothers. Our brains are wired for this. Human babies are helpless and simply cannot survive without their parents, so their brains are acutely sensitive to signals of possible abandonment, according to Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D., a senior fellow at the ChildTrauma Academy, a not-for-profit in Houston.
And babies need their parents not just physically, but emotionally. It's through these first relationships that they learn not only how to love, but also how to cope with stress by seeking care and being caring.
Normally, separation anxiety appears at about six months. Although babies can recognize their mothers much earlier, at this age—when they're usually beginning to be able to crawl or otherwise move around on their own—they start to get anxious when they can't see her. While previously, other familiar people could hold and soothe them easily, now no one but Mama (and sometimes Dad) is acceptable.
Ordinarily, children outgrow this anxiety, and often experience new bouts of it when faced with stressful situations like starting a new school. With responsive parents who always ultimately return, kids learn to trust that they can be safe in the world.
Some people are also biologically more sensitive. One important factor seems to be the functioning of the brain's endogenous opioid system. Endogenous opioids are the brain's own painkillers, similar to heroin and morphine.
"Just like humans, animals emit distress calls when they are separated from their mothers," says MauricePreter, M.D., a neurologist and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. "They go up in intensity and become more frequent with separation, and the opposite occurs with a reunion, or if you give opioids." Blocking brain opioids in animals increases separation distress. Basically, normal babies become addicted to their parents, though it's a temporary phase.
And babies need their parents not just physically, but emotionally. It's through these first relationships that they learn not only how to love, but also how to cope with stress by seeking care and being caring.
Normally, separation anxiety appears at about six months. Although babies can recognize their mothers much earlier, at this age—when they're usually beginning to be able to crawl or otherwise move around on their own—they start to get anxious when they can't see her. While previously, other familiar people could hold and soothe them easily, now no one but Mama (and sometimes Dad) is acceptable.
Ordinarily, children outgrow this anxiety, and often experience new bouts of it when faced with stressful situations like starting a new school. With responsive parents who always ultimately return, kids learn to trust that they can be safe in the world.
Some people are also biologically more sensitive. One important factor seems to be the functioning of the brain's endogenous opioid system. Endogenous opioids are the brain's own painkillers, similar to heroin and morphine.
"Just like humans, animals emit distress calls when they are separated from their mothers," says MauricePreter, M.D., a neurologist and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. "They go up in intensity and become more frequent with separation, and the opposite occurs with a reunion, or if you give opioids." Blocking brain opioids in animals increases separation distress. Basically, normal babies become addicted to their parents, though it's a temporary phase.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100235522>1=31009
2 comments:
This is very interesting. And I find no reason to doubt it. Parallel to that is the urgent quest some 'orphans' have of finding their biological parent. Or what about so many adults who obsessively seek for ancestors. What about seeking a loving partner or spouse? It is the same thing. And that makes it very, very important. We need our own, our mothers/fathers, family, loves/spouses. It is interesting that it is being proven as a real physical/biological equation.
When Ethan was born my mom sent me a link to a study that proved that babies who are prone to develop negative characteristics or behavioral problems because of genetic reasons are less likely to have problems if they are taken care of by their mother during the first year of their life rather than a care taker. The simple act of having its mom take care of it reduced the likelyhood that genetic problems would manifest themselves later in life.
Only a mom can respond appropriately to the child's needs and can provide the nurture perfectly tailored to its needs. I think it makes total sense that a newborn or infant would be somewhat addicted to its parents.
Cool stuff!
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