Meaningful relationships and bonds are formed from the moment a child is born, usually starting with the parents. When these relationships are broken, damaged or disrupted, it can result in emotional dysregulation and problems with forming and maintaining attachments.
Attachment disorders are a severe form of attachment issue and have a significant impact on the ability to function in daily life. Children or adults suffering from attachment disorders have no template of what a healthy and meaningful relationship looks like
Causes and Symptoms
Although there are many causes of attachment disorders, it is often down to some form of neglect, abuse or trauma that has occurred during early childhood and was caused by the parent or caregiver. This could also include prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol, and parents or caregivers who demonstrate poor parenting skills, psychiatric conditions, or poor anger management.
Attachment disorders may also occur because of foster care, adoption, institutionalisation or another break in the bond between child and caregiver.
Children who suffer from an attachment disorder may show signs of oppositional behaviour, poor impulse control, or self-destructive behaviour patterns. They may exhibit a lack of eye contact or interaction, or alternatively, they may show a lack of fear when meeting strangers. Clinginess, outbursts of anger, lack of affection and tendencies to bully are also signs of attachment disorders.
Where these attachment disorders continue into adulthood, a person may struggle to form or sustain romantic relationships, exhibit risky behaviours, have issues with trusting others, or suffer from forms of anxiety.
Attachment Disorder Training
https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/newport and other training providers offer mental health training courses Newport or via webinar. This includes training specifically focused on attachment disorders.
Training can help anyone working with children or adults better understand the causes, symptoms, and issues associated with attachment disorders, as well as the underlying theory-based psychology.
By having a better understanding, workers or carers in many fields are better able to support and signpost their clients, providing them with help and advice that serves to improve their quality of life.