Never in a million years would I have thought I would be a parent of two children with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

I didn't even know Reactive Attachment Disorder existed until I was an adoptive mother holding my daughter in my arms, asking myself why loving her was so dang hard. I thought it was all my fault.

And one would have thought when daughter number two came along through the foster care system that I would have recognized what was going on right away.

But I didn't.

I wasn't the target this time.

Instead I thought my husband was having a nervous breakdown.

It still amazes me how Reactive Attachment can affect the life of an innocent child and those trying to love her.

No one should have to go down this difficult road alone.

It is dark, and lonely, and oh so painful.

For these reasons, I've decided to speak out. My husband joins me.

If there is anyone out there looking for Reactive Attachment Disorder Support and Resources this page is for you.

It contains all of our posts related to the subject for easy access.

Some are informational.

Others provide ideas that may or may not work in your situation. Many of them are raw and emotional.

Warning: This page contains content related to Reactive Attachment Disorder that may be triggering to some.

Important: Children with RAD are victims of abuse and/or neglect. Behaviors associated with Reactive Attachment Disorder are due to how the brain forms while the innocent child is surviving trauma. It is our goal to support healthy and loving families where children with RAD can heal, if possible.

Reactive Attachment Disorder Support and Resources

What Is Reactive Attachment Disorder?

If you do not what Reactive Attachment Disorder is, or are trying to understand it better, this is for you!

Parenting Strategies and Guidance

There are so many parenting books out there that one would think it'd be easy to find solutions to the struggles that arise with a child who has Reactive Attachment Disorder, but the opposite is true.

So little help is available.

Here we share tried and true strategies that have worked for us as well as important guidance that every family dealing with Reactive Attachment Disorder should know.

We hope this section is helpful to you.

If a strategy doesn't work in your situation, perhaps reading our experiences will help you come up with something that may work.

How Do I Teach My Child to Swallow Pills?

Famous Cases of Reactive Attachment Disorder

150+ Ways Children and Teens with RAD Push Others Away

A Caregiver's Fears When Raising a Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

How to Single Parent a Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Worst Cases of Reactive Attachment Disorder

Reactive Attachment Disorder: Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills

8 Differences Between RAD Fits and Autism Meltdowns

Reactive Attachment Disorder: How to Address Behaviors

Internal Family Systems: A Child's Parts

Breathing Exercises for Kids with Free Printables

6 Ways to Help a Family Going through a Mental Health Emergency

Reactive Attachment Disorder and Puberty

Four Prompts to Encourage Mindfulness in Children

How to Discipline a Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Must Have Safety Resources When Parenting a Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

10 Ways to Help Family with Special Needs Children

4 Steps to Managing Aggressive Behaviors

One Sure Way to Help Your Child Work Through Emotions

5 Lessons to Teach Kids About Balancing Emotions

The Choice to Medicate Your Special Needs Child

Preparing for an appointment with a developmental pediatrician

The Realities of Reactive Attachment Disorder and Mental Health Therapy

I Think There's Something Wrong with My Child

A Glimpse of Family Life with Reactive Attachment Disorder

There's no way to help others completely understand what life is like when raising a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder, but here we attempt.

These resources are for those who are in the trenches looking for support. They're also for individuals who have a sincere desire to learn more without passing judgement.

Reactive Attachment Disorder: Where Is God?

The Cost of Raising a Child with Severe Mental Health Struggles

A Beauty and the Beast Mother's Day Celebration

Reactive Attachment Disorder Fits: Did I Do Something Wrong?

Internal Family Systems: A Mother's Parts

Why Self-Care is So Dang Hard for Parents of Children with Trauma

My Child Wants to Kill Herself! Now What?

A Minimalist Montessori Home Tour: A Little Girl's Bedroom

A Minimalist Montessori Home Tour: A Preteen's Bedroom

A Minimalist Montessori Home Tour: The Kitchen

To Be a Mother of a Young Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

The Montessori Floor Bed and Special Needs

Day to Day Life Parenting A Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Sunshine and Reactive Attachment Disorder

To Princess: The Day I Became Your Mother

To Sunshine: The Day I Became YOur Mother

Reactive Attachment Disorder Holiday Support

How to Help a Child with RAD Give Holiday Gifts

Christmas Sensory Kit Ideas for Kids and Teens

Reactive Attachment Disorder: Tips for Handling Past Trauma During the Holidays

How to Help a Child with RAD Receive Holiday Gifts

7 Reasons the Holiday Season is Difficult for Children with RAD

7 Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day with Children who Have Reactive Attachment Disorder

Gift Ideas for Teenagers with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Gift Ideas for a Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Residential Placement Resources and Support

Printables and Other Resources

And finally, a support and resources page would not be complete without some fabulous printables and resources for you to use at home or on the go.

Printables

FREE Four Prompts to Mindfulness Visuals

Charting the ABCs of Behavioral Analysis

Fun Ways to Teach Children About Emotions

Anxiety Kits and Fidgets

Anxiety Kit for Kids Who Love Princesses

Anxiety Kit for Kids Who Love Baby Dolls

Sensory Resources for Children Who Need to Chew

Books and Movies

Holidays and PTSD: A Parent's Guide to Survival

We hope that the support and resources here help you on your journey as a parent or caregiver of a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

The path we have chosen is not an easy one. Know you are never alone!

Healing can occur when the child with Reactive Attachment Disorder is able and willing.

5 comments:

AnonymousNovember 28, 2017 at 3:53 PM
We just discovered your blog after a horrible night with our 8 year old RAD son. Your realistic and compassionate portrayal of the reality of living this life with a RAD youngster is incredibly comforting and relieving. Thank you.
UnknownJanuary 14, 2021 at 2:34 PM
The feeling that I am not alone is amazing. I have an 11 year old railing that took 4 + years to be diagnosed. Thank you for your words of wisdom and compassion.
AnonymousAugust 3, 2023 at 5:39 PM
I was recently told that my child still needs very concrete representations to help her understand things we discuss even in therapy. (Things like trust, friendships, safe and unsafe people) I am having a hard time finding resources to make it more concrete and less abstract.