Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adults: What It Looks Like and What It Means
Updated 7/2/25 Reactive attachment disorder in adults often happens when it isn’t treated during childhood. Also referred to as RAD, this is a serious disorder where a child is unable to form strong attachments with their primary caregiver. People with RAD may display signs of detachment, withdrawal, difficulty keeping relationships, lack of affectionate expression, control […]…
Five Self-Care Tips to Maintain Mental Health During the Summer
The warmth, relaxation and flexibility that the summer months bring can be exciting for vacations and sunshine, but for some, summer months can have the potential to trigger feelings of being overwhelmed and losing control. Expectations of being carefree can put a lot of pressure on those who are struggling with depression or anxiety. Below […]…
Signs, Symptoms and Causes of Reactive Attachment Disorder
Reactive attachment disorder also known as RAD occurs in children 9 months to 5 years of age. It is normal for children to attach to their parents and caregivers. In fact, stranger anxiety peaks at 6 months-12 months of age and is totally normal during this developmental stage. Children who have RAD rarely seek or […]…
Help for Parents of Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder
Updated 4/24/25 As a parent, having a child with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) can be frustrating and disheartening, as you want so much for your child to show affection towards you. It is often difficult for children with reactive attachment disorder to be diagnosed because signs and symptoms are very similar to autism spectrum disorder […]…
Developing Reactive Attachment Disorder: Is it Avoidable?
Reactive attachment disorder is a childhood mental health disorder where the child does not develop healthy, stable attachments to their parent/caregiver due to physical and/or emotional neglect early on. When caregivers are unstable or unresponsive during the first few years of the child’s life then the child is at risk for developing an attachment disorder. […]…
Common Myths and Misunderstanding About Reactive Attachment Disorder
Reactive attachment disorder, a disorder that is seen in young children, results from the disruption of the attachment process by neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or frequent change in the primary caregivers in the first few years of the child’s life. The child will exhibit withdrawn behavior towards caregivers, irritability, sadness or emotional turmoil during […]…
Reactive Attachment Disorder and Adoption
Adopting a child can be one of the greatest gifts a family can experience. The active decision to take a child out of foster care or out of a dire situation and give them unlimited support and love can dramatically change this child’s life forever. In the United States, approximately one out 25 families have […]…
Guide to Understanding RAD as a Parent
Parenting a child with reactive attachment disorder can be extremely challenging and at times, hurtful. It is common for these children to act out towards their parents, act extremely cold around their parents and for parents to feel guilty and overwhelmed by what may have caused RAD in their child at such a young age. […]…
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
A mental health disorder or a substance abuse disorder usually does not exist in an isolated vacuum. This means that it is quite common for these disorders to co-exist, a term known as dual diagnosis. It is often difficult to differentiate which disorder initiated first and if there was a direct cause and effect however […]…
What are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Updated 4/16/25 Substance abuse and addiction can mask a mental illness and vice versa. Many patients admit to an addiction treatment program only to find out that they are also struggling with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. This depression or anxiety could have developed to cope with the addiction, or the […]…