Attachment Issues  A major problem with the diagnosis of attachment disorder is the painful truth that many of the very people we turn to for help - professionals in the mental health, neurological, and medical fields - often lack the knowledge and expertise to treat us or our children.
Attachment disorders range in severity. Attachment is on a continuum that runs from securely attached to those who suffer from severe attachment disorder. A lot has to do with the individuals themselves - their physiological and psychological make-up, the type of environment they were raised in, and the duration they were in that environment along with a myriad of other variables.
Children, adolescents, and adults who did not get their emotional and physical needs met in the first few years as well as those who did not have a strong connection with their primary caregiver are candidates for attachment issues. Some of the causes of attachment problems are very subtle and often go unrecognized.
Those with attachment disorder are reacting to events in their early life that may include neglect, abuse, or something more subtle (see causes below). Due to these events, many individuals are unable to attach in a healthy manner to a partner or primary caregiver.
Individuals with attachment disorder see the world differently. They learned in those first few months or years that they could not rely on others to keep them safe. In many cases, they learned that other people were uncaring, mean, rejecting, violent, unreliable, unresponsive, or absent. The potential causes vary.
Potential Causes
Neglect Abuse Separation from the primary caregiver Changes in the primary caregiver Frequent moves and/or placements Traumatic experiences Maternal depression Maternal addiction - drugs or alcohol Undiagnosed, painful illness such as colic, ear infections, etc. Lack of attunement between mother and child Young or inexperienced mother with poor parenting skills
Symptoms Intense battles for control Very bossy and argumentative Defiance and anger Resists affection on parental terms Lack of eye contact, especially with parents - will look into your eyes when lying Manipulative - superficially charming and engaging Indiscriminately affectionate with strangers Poor peer relationships Steals Lies about the obvious Lack of conscience - shows no remorse Destructive to property, self and/or others Lack of impulse control Hypervigilant/Hyperactive Learning lags/delays Speech and language problems Incessant chatter and/or questions Inappropriately demanding and/or clingy Food issues - hordes, gorges, refuses to eat, eats strange things, hides food Fascinated with fire, blood, gore, weapons, evil Very concerned about tiny hurts but brushes off big hurts Parents appear hostile and angry The child was neglected and/or physically abused in the first three years of life
 If you, your partner, your child, or your adolescent son or daughter struggles with any of the above mentioned issues, please call us today for a free consultation and ask to speak with Kimberley Harris, Ray Robinson, Jennifer Reed, or Chris Berger.
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