Reactive Attachment Disorder Information
THE NATURE OF ATTACHMENT DISORDERS
Interruption in the cycle of attachment during the first or second year of a child's life generally results in some degree of attachment disorder including lack of trust in his primary caregiver, his environment, and himself. This lack of trust interferes with developing reciprocal and responsive relationships in successful friendships, marriage, parenting, therapy, education, and employment.
By the time a child and his family come to us, the child is often chronically angry, depressed, anxious, scared and always on the lookout for something troubling. A child with this kind of psychological and emotional damage has usually developed ways of interacting with the world that do not build trust or accept nurturing from well-meaning adoptive or foster parents.
CHILD WITH RAD
B. was adopted at 3 after having been removed from his drug addicted mother. When he came into his adoptive family, he raged, avoided eye contact, affection, and only behaved when he wanted something. His adoptive family had been very loving and tried many different parenting techniques but to no avail. At 10 he was failing in school, had no friends and was self-destructive. Upon arriving at Attachment and Trauma Specialists, his parents were exhausted, worried and feeling hopeless. They had little support from community, friends and family.
"Our first meeting with ATS was an emotional one. For the first time since we adopted our son we felt that someone finally understood our turmoil. A huge weight was lifted off of us. We were given many tools to handle our son as well as our own frustration. Our son also found the language and safety to better understand himself and vocalize his feelings, rather than take his anger out on us. Although he has a long way to go towards healing, he finally can come to us and share his feelings. It is a huge accomplishment and sense of relief" -B.'s mother
Diagnosis Information
The official mental health diagnosis for the majority of the children and teens we treat is Reactive Attachment Disorder (DSM V F94.1).
Some patients may have other diagnoses as well, such as:
· Conduct disorder
· Oppositional Defiant
· Attention Deficit (ADHD)
· Mood disorders (Bipolar)
· Post Traumatic Stress
Attachment Style Information
CHILDREN WITH AMBIVALENT ATTACHMENT –
Are angry, defiant & can be violent.
Will push affection away to keep control
Are destructive both with their own belonging and others
Are extremely difficult children to parent because they sabotage or destroy almost everything positive that happens to them.
When they want something, they act very affectionate.
Have few friends if any, although they will say they do, listing several acquaintances – keep friends only for a short time
Lack the ability to give and receive love
Lack empathy for others – often cruel to animals and other children.
CHILDREN WITH ANXIOUS ATTACHMENT –
Tend to be overly clingy, showing extreme separation anxiety when separated from their mothers.
Incessantly chatters to control conversation
Appear to be eager to please and are superficially compliant.
Are often passive aggressive, constantly doing little things wrong, but never doing anything really bad, but frazzling the parents patience and control.
Usually recover faster than those in the other categories
CHILDREN WITH AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT –
Are often overlooked as they are very compliant, agreeable & superficially engaging,
Lack depth to their emotions & functions – robotic like, not genuine or real in emotional engagement.
Don’t enjoy being around others because they don't feel safe.
Are Omnipotent – believing that they can care for all their own needs by themselves, and do not need others, especially their mothers.
Are sullen and openly oppositional, but mostly in a passive aggressive way.
CHILDREN WITH DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT–
Have highly disorganized behavior showing a variety of symptoms.
Hide anger deep inside, they are easier to deal with, harder to treat.
May have atypical psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other neurological disorders.
Often will have mental illness in the family history.
Are excessively excitable (other RAD children are usually moody.)
Are most difficult to treat in therapy because they have so many different problems and often require medication and out-of-home care.
Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder:
Superficially charming and engaging, particularly around strangers or those who they feel they can manipulate
Indiscriminate affection, often to strangers; but not affectionate on parent’s terms
Problems making eye contact, except when angry or lying
A severe need to control everything and everyone; worsens as the child gets older
Hypervigilant
Hyperactive, yet lazy in performing tasks
Argumentative, often over silly or insignificant things
Frequent tantrums or rage, often over trivial issues
Demanding or clingy, often at inappropriate timesTrouble understanding cause and effect
Poor impulse control
Lacks morals, values, and spiritual faith
Little or no empathy; often have not developed a conscience
Cruelty to animals
Lying for no apparent reason
False allegations of abuse
Destructive to property or self
Stealing
Constant chatter; nonsense questions
Abnormal speech patterns; uninterested in learning communication skills
Developmental / Learning delays
Fascination with fire, blood and gore, weapons, evil; will usually make the bad choice
Problems with food; either hoarding it or refusing to eat
Concerned with details, but ignoring the main issues
Few or no long term friends; tend to be loners
Attitude of entitlement and self-importance
Sneaks things without permission even if he could have had them by asking
Triangulation of adults; pitting one against the other
A darkness behind the eyes when raging