Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder include the following: Subjective feeling of anxiety Unrealistic worries about the safety of loved ones Reluctance to fall asleep if not near the primary attachment figure Excessive dismay (ie, tantrums) if separation from the primary attachment figure is imminent Nightmares with separation-related themes Homesickness Psychosomatic symptoms such as headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, stomachache, cramps, vomiting, muscle aches, and heart palpitations