What is so hard about raising a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder?
70Causes of RAD
Reactive Attachment Disorder is not genetic. It is caused when an infant less than two years old is unable to attach in a loving, trusting relationship with a primary caregiver. This can happen as a result of several things: abuse, neglect, multiple changing caregivers, or failure to respond to and meet the needs of the infant.
There are some neurological connections in the brain that are not completed until after the baby is born. These are completed when the child is cuddled, caressed and spoken to, and when he cries his needs are attended to. This develops trust. "I am valuable to this person, and he/she will take care of me. The world is a safe place." This is the primary learning task of the first few months of life.
When this does not happen there are physical and emotional results. The connections in the brain are completed in a damaging way. Sometimes they are connected in such a way as to permanently "wire" the brain into a constant "fight or flight" mode. There are higher levels of adrenalin surging through the body the whole time the child is awake, they are in a constant surveillance mode. This can be seen as extreme startle-ability, difficulty going to sleep, and very sound sleep when it finally arrives.
Emotionally the child learns that he is not loved, his needs will not be met by anyone else, he cannot trust anyone else and must look after himself. This interferes with the healthy development of conscience and ability to empathize and love. Discipline and training are based on a trusting relationship with the teacher. If the child does not trust the caregiver/teacher, he has no reason to believe what he is being taught. He will simply do what he feels is in his best interest at any given time. There is no reason to restrain impulses, natural self-restricting thoughts and behaviors do not develop normally.
Relationships with other people are not based on intimacy and caring, but on negotiation and manipulation. "I will give you whatever will get for me the result I want. In this way I will take care of my needs." Rules are followed so as to avoid punishment or negative results, not out of cooperation. When he thinks he can avoid these results, he will do whatever he wants. When caught, there may appear to be repentance. But this is not because of regret for the act, but only for getting caught.
There is no pill or medication to correct this condition. That is why there is so much reluctance to give the RAD diagnosis. But it is very real, and causes a lot of heartache.
However, there is some hope. There is more information available now than even ten years ago, and strategies for coping and compensating are being developed. With years of constant love and training and professional intervention, I have seen our daughter take baby steps to improvement. It is a long and arduous job, and I don't know what the end results will be, but the little improvement is worth it. As it says in Matthew, "With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
To read more, see:
Causes of RAD
Introduction to RAD
Tough Love for RAD
The Changing Nature of RAD
Signs of RAD in Infancy
RAD and Teenagers and Adults
RAD and Empathy
CommentsLoading...
I know loads of people who act like they have this :/
Wow this is amazing, when many people have some problem with kids, they think that there's some kind of bad behavior, but it's weird if they think that can be a disease or maybe not, who knows.
And then way back when, there was that "chick" action flick, Alien, that nobody wanted to see.
Thanks for pointing out the eye-rolling doublespeak.
We have two children with RAD. We fostered a brother and sister for a year and a half and then adopted them 8 years ago, unaware this condition even existed. By the time we were forced to seek professional help, my wife and I and 3 older biological children were emotional messes. We had also adopted a baby girl straight from the hospital. She was a crack baby but is an angel and perfect in every way and is truly our lifeline. We read every book and used every technique on "the two", seeing some results until we discovered that our 10 year-old son with RAD had been methodically and regularly raping our little 4 year-old angel. He was a little mastermind. That was a year ago, and he is neither sorry nor willing to comply with therapy requirements. He is unsafe and has completely criminal thinking. The only thing that keeps the family safe is constant supervision of him, but we're worn-down. All of us see psychologists, 5 of us are on meds, 6 of us see a psychiatrist. We are completely isolated. Our children with RAD charm everyone. They think we're overreacting. I wish I had a nickel for every time someone said my son is a great boy. There is no support. Children's services won't help, so we have to fork-over tens of thousands of dollars to an attorney, and for what? To undo the adoption? He can't stay here, but I love him. He is my son and always will be. It hurts so much to invest so much into a child and be unable to cure him. And he leaves a trail of damaged people, children and adults, behind him. Then there's his sister. Do not under any circumstances knowingly adopt a child with RAD into a family of normal children. For your wife's sake, don't do it! There is a God in heaven, and I know He has a purpose in all of this and that it will all work-out. It's a good thing He's calling the shots and not me because I would never choose this for my family, but it's obviously what we need. Sorry about ranting and raving to strangers and boring you to death. There's just never anyone to talk to. Good thing I can remain anonymous.
My friend, Psyco Rad Parent, my heart really goes out to you. I would really love to speak with you and share experiences. You have really had a load to bear, and people who have never dealt with RAD cannot even imagine what it is like, and the toll it takes on a family. I live in Joplin, MO. Where do you live?
CommentsLoading...
We have a son with Fragile X Syndrome and RAD, growth hormone deficiency, etc. etc. Very tough to deal with is an understatement. He came to us at 19 months. He is 16 now. Thanks for the article. It is a comfort to know of other people who know how tough a kid with RAD can be.
I was wondering if anyone knew any good books on raising children with attachment disorders? I've been reading a wonderful general parenting book called "how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk," and many of the skills in the book have been helpful, but some do not as a result of my foster daughter's attachment disorder. I would love to be able to read a similar type of book that deals with some of the unique challenges faced by us.
Common wisdom so often isn't. The numbers in this post absolutely blow my mind. A movie that'll be fogotten in a few years made enough money to replace the I5 bridge. Bill Maher is right, Hollywood is the last industry making money in this country!
Gawth 2 years ago
good work and a very good article