Reactive attachment disorder, or RAD is triggered when a child is unable to complete the bonding cycle with their primary caregiver before the age of five. Babies and small children begin building the foundation for trust, healthy attachment with others and security at this very critical stage in development. This bonding is established through affectionate […]
Archives for February 2014
Symptoms of Teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Understanding the challenges and symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder, or RAD, requires knowledge of how it is caused. Infants typically form attachment to their primary caregiver by repeated touch, being soothed and consistently having their needs met. These activities lay the groundwork for trust and future healthy attachments such as relationships with family and friends. […]
Treatment of RAD
Reactive Attachment Disorder, or RAD, occurs when the bonding or attachment process between a child and its mother or primary caretaker is disrupted or absent. Whether it is through neglect, unavoidable separation or constantly changing caretakers, children with RAD miss out on the crucial formative process of bonding that sets the stage for trust and […]
Causes of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Reactive Attachment Disorder, or RAD, occurs when the bonding or attachment process with the primary caregiver is interrupted or absent. The damage is usually done before a child reaches the age of five. Our earliest years as infants and children is when we train our minds to trust others and bond with them. Activities such […]
What is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)?
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) occurs primarily in kids who have been unable to form an emotionally healthy attachment to their primary caregivers, usually before the age of five. In older children and adults, it can present in behaviors ranging from aggressive behavior to extreme withdrawal. In every case, it is characterized by an inability to […]
How To Thrive With ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly referred to as ADHD, is a behavioral disorder affecting approximately 8%-10% of school age kids. Although it is not known why, boys are more often diagnosed with ADHD than girls. It is most often discovered during the earlier childhood years, especially as it has become more recognized, although some […]
Teens and Alcohol – How To Talk To Your Teen
The adolescent years are a time of pushing boundaries and experimentation as teens stand on the cusp of becoming adults. Unfortunately, this time often involves alcohol, which can lead to a variety of dangerous situations. Although schools are now making great efforts to educate teens on the negative effects of drinking, there is no substitute […]
5 Reasons It Is Important To Eat Dinner As A Family
For past generations, the dinner table was the main gathering place at the end of the work/school day. What likely began primarily as a convenience, serving and clearing a meal once, has grown into one of the most important times of the day for the family. With the rise of after school activities, the convenience […]
Defiance and Teens- Tips To Raising Your Teen During Their Defiant Years
The teenage years are a common battleground for defiance and acting out. The years where adolescents are making the change from children to adults can frustrating for both teens and their parents. Physically, the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, or the part of the brain that makes decisions and thinks rationally, does not fully develop […]
10 Tips To Talk To Your Teen
It is not uncommon for communication to break down between parents and children during the adolescent years. Teens start to balk against rules and parents don't quite see them as responsible and grown up as they themselves do. Talking to your teen can be a minefield of misunderstandings and arguments, but during these formative years, […]