SYMPTOMS and CAUSES of ATTACHMENT DISORDERS

Symptoms

• Intense control battles, 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

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

Attachment | The Stress Response
Symptoms of RAD | Potential causes of RAD