Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adults
Reactive attachment disorder in adults manifests itself during the
childhood years of the affected person. Read all about the
symptoms of reactive attachment disorder in adults in the
following article.
When two people have a bond between them, they tend to
become affectionate towards each other. We are affectionate
towards many people in our lives. The first relationship that
teaches one to become affectionate is the bond between a mother
and her child. Soon, the child begins to develop bonds with the
father, grandparents, siblings, friends and many other people he/
she will meet in a lifetime. However, when a child cannot create
the bonds or ties with its parents and family, it leads to attachment
disorder. As the child ages, this attachment disorders turns into
reactive attachment disorder in adults. The following paragraphs
will cover some information that will help you understand what is
reactive attachment disorder in adults.
What is Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adults
Reactive attachment disorder in adults is a conditions in which an
individual has difficulty in forming loving, lasting intimate
relationships. These people believe that they are capable enough of
providing for their own needs as well as safety. Individuals with
reactive attachment disorder in adults fail to develop a conscience.
They fail to show empathy and lack genuine affection for any
person or even a pet.
These individuals lack the element of trust and therefore do not
allow anyone to control them. This behavior disorder is generally
developed when the primary caregiver that is either of the parents
gets physically or emotionally separated or abuses the individual
during the first 3 years of their life. According to Magid & McKelvey
1988, if a child cannot develop a bond of love with their mother,
he will not be able to get attached to any person or thing
throughout his/ her life. These individuals do not think like a
normal person and they remain unattached from within. They are
burning with anger deep within their mental psyche.
These reactive attachment disorder in adults is seen those
individuals who have a rage similar to that of psychopaths. These
people are angry because of their unfulfilled needs as an infant.
They have a feeling of abandonment in their minds for ever. They
find it extremely difficult to get into a relationship and this makes
their treatment even more difficult.
Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adults
Most of the time, people with reactive attachment disorder often
complain of problems fitting in. For a long time, reactive
attachment disorder in children was never thought to be a major
problem in adults. However, as an adult many issues came into
picture like relationship troubles, workplace issues, and problems
with social life. As an adult, the individual with reactive attachment
disorder may show problems like clinging on to something for a
long time, co-dependency, neediness, etc. These individuals show
a high level of anger and hostility towards others that prevents
them from making strong, intimate relationships. A few live
superficial lives, never begin able to show their true emotions and
living an almost isolated life. The symptoms of reactive
attachment disorder in adults depend on the individual's genetic
personality make up. The symptoms of reactive attachment
disorder in adults are divided into two categories, avoidant
attachment and ambivalent attachment. Let us have a look at the
reactive attachment disorder in adults symptoms according to the
categories.
Avoidant Reactive Attachment Disorder Symptoms
They avoid intimacy
They show compulsive self-reliance
They have difficulty in getting along with co-workers and often
prefer working alone rather than begin a team player
They fear closeness in relationships
Hostile
Lack of empathy
They have very low levels of perceived support
They tend to be overly critical of others
Passive withdrawal
They find relationships as a threat to their sense of control and
feel the relation is not worth the effort
They are very sensitive to blame
They have a tendency towards self criticism
They do believe in idealizing the love relationship
They often have the mindset that others are untrustworthy or
undependable
They think of themselves as an unlovable person or too good
for others
They tend to become intensely self critical
They avoid personal relationships by citing work reasons
They show intense anger
Ambivalent Reactive Attachment Disorder Symptoms
They show compulsive care giving nature
They desire for intimate contact and declarations of affections at
all times from their partners
They are a bit discomfortable with anger
They show extreme emotions
They can either feel over involved and under appreciated with
their work or relationships
They tend to idealize others
They are very jealous
Mood swings
They never have long term relationships
They tend to over indulge with their emotions in a relationship
They also feel others are very difficult to understand
They find relationships imbalanced
Possessive
They tend to be preoccupied or show dependence on
relationship
Relationship becomes the primary mode through which they
can experience a sense of security
They are very sensitive to 'NO' or any form of rejection
They have very strong feelings of reciprocation from their
partner in a relationship
They many carry out suicide attempts
They have a tendency of dependent depression
They never find anyone to be altruistic
They feel their partner is unpredictable
They feel they are unlovable or undesired by others
Reactive attachment disorder in adults may also make individuals
feel empty or sad from within. They are in constant need for love
and affection, but their untrustworthy outlook towards others
does not allow them to seek love. They hold on to the negative
feelings and problems of the past. These negative feelings make
them even more fearful, aloof and less affectionate towards
others.
These people require therapy to re-nurture the feelings of
emotions that helps them over come their rage and trapped
emotions. If you know someone with reactive attachment
disorder in adults, you need to shower them with love and care.
Give them all your support while they are in undergoing therapy.
It is not easy to find changes within an individual soon after a
beginning a therapy. This a very long process that may take
years. The success of a intervention depends on the individual and
the degree of disorder manifested within the individual. One of the
famous personalities is Helen Keller who was diagnosed with
reactive attachment disorder. With early therapy, she too
overcame her attachment disorder and went on to become a fore
bearer of the cause for the deaf and blind. Thus, you too can hope
to see such a miracle in a loved one and overcome the attachment
disorder problems.
Ambivalent Reactive Attachment Disorder Symptoms
All these symptoms fit me except the one about never having long term relationships.
reading this it was like some one understanding me, for the first freaken time in my life. It feels like half the battle won just knowing that there is a name for my many issues I carry with my. That hubby survived being married with dysfuctionality for so long gives me hope that too. I can't even express what I'm feeling at the moment.
