Attachment Disorder

I have clients that never cease to amaze me. I am amazed at how different everyone is, yet how similar they are. I can tell many parents a great deal about their children without meeting them, yet I have many questions to ask, and the answers are often different. As a child approaches 10 or 11, I begin to point out that they are really hurting themselves and it is less about hurting "mom" than it is about hurting themselves - they are losing their childhood and staying miserable. I have seen many successes - children developing empathy - children stabilizing - families stabilizing. I always wish there was more I could do. Chris

there's always more to add on this subject. It's effects can be devastating to families. Friends are lost, extended family members, don't support the family on occasion, all because people cannot believe the parents about the child - how could a child do some of those behaviors, and why are they such a problem. Just ignore them, they will quit. Others do not realize the underlying motives for some of these behaviors and when someone lives with them and sees their intentions, it is different then children WITHOUT attachment disorder. Parents often cannot or won't tell others, because they are judged and/or not believed and feel stupid. As a therapist, I understand, because I can tell right away when someone doesn't really get it - including psychiatric hospitals, psychiatrists, psychologists, other therapists, etc. - treat them like the other children, love them enough, they will be okay. But that is NOT the case. website listing: www.theattachmentgroup.or

Attachment disorder is a disorder that results from abandonment of an infant - in utero or the first 2 years of life. Families can be devastated by this disorder as it affects one of the children. Families feel alienated and misunderstood by others, as others cannot believe a child can exhibit such behaviors. In a future blog, I will discuss more symptoms and behaviors of the children. Children often experience multiple diagnoses when they have been adopted from other countries, orphanages, and/or within the child welfare system of the U.S. Some of these difficulties include Fetal Alcohol Effects or Syndrome, Developmental Delays, Bipolar Disorder, and ADHD, to name a few. I am a big believer in the genetic component and birth parent problems are often passed on to the children. More later!! Please feel free to add.