Neuro Emotional Technique as a Treatment for Separation Anxiety Related to Prenatal Stress: A Case Report

Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is increasingly recognised as a contributor to early-life emotional dysregulation through mechanisms such as prenatal stress programming (PNSP). Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is the most common childhood anxiety condition, with limited treatment options for cases linked to prenatal factors. Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a mind-body intervention that targets unresolved emotional stress patterns through physiological and semantic integration. While used clinically in stress-related disorders, NET's application in treating anxiety rooted in prenatal stress is underreported. An eight-year-old girl presented with severe separation anxiety, persistent nightmares, generalised anxiety, oppositional behaviour, and sleep difficulties. The onset of symptoms was hypothesised to be linked to PNMS. Previous interventions, including child psychology and natural remedies, were ineffective. The patient was treated with 11 NET sessions over six weeks. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) was utilised before and after treatment to assess symptom severity. NET treatment focused on identifying and integrating somatically stored emotional patterns, including in utero experiences. The "Somatic Imprint Model" was developed to conceptualise this process, amalgamating concepts we call somatic memory, stress imprinting, emotional conditioning, and trauma echoes. SCAS scores decreased by 25 points (child report) and 17 points (parent report). Improvements were noted in sleep, emotional regulation, independence, and confidence. The treatment was well tolerated with no adverse events. This case suggests that NET may offer therapeutic benefit in children with anxiety linked to prenatal stress, particularly when conventional approaches have been unsuccessful. While causality cannot be inferred from a single case, the magnitude of change observed warrants further investigation through controlled studies examining NET's efficacy and mechanisms in early-life stress contexts.