RAD - Reactive Attachment Disorder

Well, the list of symptoms is long and somewhat scary but from all the reading I have been doing there are so many children in foster care, or those who have been adopted that suffer from Attachment Disorder I wanted to post them here:

Symptoms of RAD in Children

Superficially charming and engaging, particularly around strangers or those who they feel they can manipulate
Indiscriminate affection, often to strangers; but not affectionate on parent’s terms
Problems making eye contact, except when angry or lying
A severe need to control everything and everyone; worsens as the child gets older
Hypervigilant
Hyperactive, yet lazy in performing tasks
Argumentative, often over silly or insignificant things
Frequent tantrums or rage, often over trivial issues
Demanding or clingy, often at inappropriate times
Trouble understanding cause and effect
Poor impulse control
Lacks morals, values, and spiritual faith
Little or no empathy; often have not developed a conscience
Cruelty to animals
Lying for no apparent reason
False allegations of abuse
Destructive to property or self
Stealing
Constant chatter; nonsense questions
Abnormal speech patterns; uninterested in learning communication skills
Developmental / Learning delays
Fascination with fire, blood and gore, weapons, evil; will usually make the bad choice
Problems with food; either hoarding it or refusing to eat
Concerned with details, but ignoring the main issues
Few or no long term friends; tend to be loners
Attitude of entitlement and self-importance
Sneaks things without permission even if he could have had them by asking
Triangulation of adults; pitting one against the other
A darkness behind the eyes when raging

list was provided by www.RadKid.org

It is such a scary thing to deal with - and at the same time not always easy to diagnos. Many kids will present as ADHD or something else, but if you have adopted or have a foster child that displays even a few of these symptoms I URGE you to get that child into therapy.

This is not only for the good of the child, but for the good of your family. This disorder can make the most able parent feel inadequate and unable to parent. It can tear a family apart and make the parent who is the object of the RAD feel like less than a person