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Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is caused by emotional neglect in childhood and can lead to difficulty forming relationships and social interactions. Symptoms vary by age and can include refusal of food, stubbornness, and manipulation. RAD can persist into adulthood and lead to drug or alcohol abuse and criminal behavior. Adolescents with RAD may exhibit inappropriate behavior or withdraw completely.
Reactive attachment disorder typically develops in children who have been emotionally neglected at a young age. Symptoms of reactive attachment disorder depend on the child’s age, and one-year-olds may show signs, such as refusing food and not responding to offered interaction. Older children often demonstrate stubbornness, defiance, and difficulty relating and interacting with others, even close family members.
Many diagnosed individuals will show symptoms of reactive attachment disorder throughout their lives. Since the individual typically begins as neglected by parents or caregivers or is moved from one foster family to another, his or her abilities to form lasting and meaningful relationships are severely impaired from the outset. Infants and toddlers often show the first signs, including not being interested in the activities of nearby people, not participating in games or playing, not smiling, and not fidgeting when left alone.
As the child develops, these symptoms of reactive attachment disorder may continue into a melancholy and withdrawn personality. Children with reactive attachment disorder typically prefer to be left alone and may become agitated or angry when forced to interact with those of a similar age. Many of these children watch from outside a social circle and avoid all physical contact with others, and this typically continues through their school and teenage years. Children can also become extremely manipulative, with no regard for others, and often lie or make false accusations to get out of trouble or get what they want.
Adolescents who continue the illness without assistance often find solace in drugs or alcohol. Those who know they struggle with illegal activities such as theft and vandalism, or with school, rarely ask for help and openly distrust parents, teachers, or other authority figures. When forced into social situations, they are obviously uncomfortable speaking and relating to others and are largely unable to form lasting friendships or even passing acquaintances. They will often watch groups of friends interact socially, but will not think of approaching the group or talking to any of the individuals.
In their high school years, the individual will typically appear to lag behind their peers in emotional development and may exhibit one of two types of reactive attachment disorder symptoms. This can manifest itself in two distinctly different ways. There may be problems with acting out, i.e. irrational or inappropriate behavior designed to get attention. Other individuals may withdraw completely and shy away from any attention. Both types may be unable to understand the emotions felt by others and may exhibit violent behavior when meeting those who do not understand them.
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