I've been reading some articles on adoptees with RAD. Is it something I have to worry about with my son?

Question

I've had him since he was born and we have an open adoption. What causes RAD? How can I prevent it in my son? Is it something I even need to worry about?

Answer 1

RAD is reactive attachment disorder. It's different from PTSD, but often if a child has RAD he's got PTSD as well, and some of the symtpoms can overlap.

It's unlikely you have to worry about RAD with a newborn adoption. It's rare for children who experienced ONE separation at THAT young of an age to develop RAD. Not impossible, but highly improbable.

Please note, I'm not saying there are no attachment repercussions, not trauma, no loss for a newborn adoptee... there ARE those things... but the chances of them leading into full-blown RAD are slim.

If you don't already know about or practice attachment parenting, look into it. You can help your adoptee by doing practicing attachment parenting. (NOTE: this is different than you trying to do attachment THERAPY! As Mary rightly notes, there's some controversy around attachment therapy. Do NOT try to recreate a birth experience or any of that stuff with your child... attachment parenting would be: baby-wearing; being a stay-at-home mom if possible; not allowing your child to "cry it out," but instead answering his cries immediately; etc.)

Answer 2

If you have had your son since birth he will not have Reactive Attachment Disorder, Rad occurs mainly in severely neglected children such as those adopted in international orphanages or older foster child. It is not something that adopted children naturally have. I work daily with both babies and younger children who either already have RAD or are in the very early stages of it. One of the first signs in not crying.. Why? Crying in a natural instinct that children have in order to let us know they need something, we condition them to know that crying will achieve that goal.

crying=food

crying=diaper changes

crying =comfort

It does not take much for small babies and children to see the connection here, and when they are neglected they soon realize that crying serves no purpose. Thus they stop.. They are hungry but no longer realize that crying will achieve the goal of having that need met.

If you have had your son since birth I would not worry about it.  Although there are other issues such as abandonment issues you might want to look at instead. Good Luck.

Answer 3

It is Reactive Attatchement Disorder, and no I don't think you need to worry about it in your son. I think it is often given as a diagnosis when they really don't know exactly what is wrong. Alot of adoptees are diagnosed with this, but personally I believe it is more often PTSD from the trauma involved when the child was seperated from their mother. You on the other hand know this, you acknowledge it, you have an open adoption and you truly care, and that dear lady makes all the difference in the world.

Here is the link from the answer to my own question on therapy and it provided some very good information on why not to use this sort of therapy if your child is having a problem.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRela...

Answer 4

Reactive attachment disorder occurs in the first 26 months of life as the result of "early experiences of neglect, abuse, abrupt separation from caregivers after about age 6 months but before about age 3 years, frequent change of caregivers, or lack of caregiver responsiveness to child communicative efforts."

The most extreme cases reported usually occur to children in orphanages that are understaffed, where kids are left in their cribs with little human contact.  Or in cases of extreme abuse and / or neglect.  

While there may be some questionable therapies available for RAD, there have also been some very effective therapies developed to help children recover from this disorder. A great book to read about RAD is called "Dandelion On My Pillow, Butcher Knife Beneath", by Nancy Thomas, a mom who's worked with and helped RAD kids for over 20 years.  

I doubt, however, that this is an issue in your family situation.  Adoption alone doesn't create the trauma that causes RAD.  

There are theories that the separation of child from it's mother is registered on the unconscious mind.  Babies who have lost their original mothers may experience some feelings of grief and loss.  With  your open & loving heart, an open adoption and your obvious concern for your baby's wellbeing, you have nothing to worry about.  

"One of the most powerful healing forces is available to every parent, free of charge: empathy. Empathy allows a person, even a tiny baby, to feel her feelings, rather than repress them, so they can be released."

Good luck!

See the following links:

http://www.radkid.org/

http://www.quantumparenting.com/docs/wsg...

http://www.amazon.com/Dandelion-Pillow-B...