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 Attachment Disorder and Resources
First, let's look at some potential causes of attachment disorder.
- Neglect
- Abuse
- Separation from primary caregiver
- Changes in primary caregiver
- Frequent moves and/ or placements
- Trauma
- Maternal Depression
- Maternal use of drugs or alcohol
- Undiagnosed painful illness such as colic, ear infections, etc.
- Young or inexperienced mother with poor parenting skills
Below you will find some brief descriptions of
maladaptive attachment patterns. The descriptions are not all in
inclusive and are not meant to be a diagnostic tool. These are, however,
behaviors parents commonly see in children with attachment disorder.
Anxious Attachment - Needy, clingy, severe separation anxiety
- Incessantly chatters to control conversation
- Appear to be eager to please, superficially compliant.
- Often passive aggressive
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.
Disorganized Attachment
- Disorganized behavior and a bizarre showing a variety of symptoms.
- Hide anger deep inside, they are easier to deal with, harder to treat.
- Often will have mental illness in the family history.
- Are excessively excitable
Ambivalent Attachment - Angry, defiant, can be violent.
- Pushes affection away to keep control
- Can be affectionate when they want something
- Destructive
- Sabotage or destroy almost everything positive that happens to them
- Have few friends if any, although they will say they do, listing several acquaintances – keep friends only for a short time
- Unable to give or receive love
- Lack empathy for others – often cruel to animals and other children.
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Resources (Click on title to buy on Amazon) Books
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