Reactive Attachment Disorder: True Stories From Parents

Reactive Attachment Disorder, also known as RAD, is a term used by many parents to describe the severe behaviors they see in children affected by adverse childhood experiences or attachment trauma. It is an extremely difficult burden on any family. Watch this to hear stories from parents and see how they describe RAD.

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Medical Disclosure:
The information and programs presented on or through this website are made available to equip you with knowledge and tools. All the programs on this website are educational and self-guided or coach-directed programs. This information nor these programs are (nor are a substitute for) medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any physical or mental health issues, I recommend you work with a qualified health provider who will also support your desire to address the effects of trauma.

© Trauma Healing Accelerated 2021.

[ripj]

I don’t know how to express this very well: but I’m 28, and I pretend to be okay so nobody comes close enough to me to learn what my real issues are. I’ve done so for so long, that I don’t know who I am anymore, and I can’t bring myself to profess why I need help, because I’ve blocked that attachment pathway. I won’t ask for help, because I don’t want to be honest about what really happened to me, because I can’t cope with admitting that “I lived through an experience that would make an adult pity me, and all I want is for someone to tell me I did a good job surviving. I want someone to be proud that I’m alive and thriving today without having to tell them how bad it all was. Because then they’ll never look at me the same again, and all I want to do is forget it”.

Thank you, any help helps a lot. I’m used to not getting the help I crave, so I trained myself to be grateful that you even heard my words, because at least it means you care enough to be curious.

[petermparker]

I got RAD, because my mother and father left my as a baby and filled me with drugs, my grandma and grandpa picked me and my brother up and kept us but they beated us untill I even went knocked out to sleep. It happened forever. I met my mom a while a go and she stole my phone and called me a hoe. I left her sadly, after a while (2 months ago) I started living with my boyfriend. My RAD went more silent and my depression went away, all we children with RAD....we all just need....love and caring, not such awful pain.

[waterotter]

I hate my RAD. For me, relationships and bonding with people is like looking at a chalkboard filled with complex mathematical equations and trying to solve it, and wondering why I can't solve it. What is so hard about relationships?

[RixonNoxir]

I'd like to see a documentary. I have RAD (I'm not adopted however), but there's not much information online. To see a documentary about it could be helpful to not just me, but people who raise RAD children as well.

[celimarcruz]

I have RADS disorder. I’m 20 years old and it’s like people don’t even look the same anymore. I used to be so interested in connecting and learning and understanding people and now it all just scares me. People always leave, whether they want to or not, that’s life. We all live selfishly too so it’s like can I really blame people for being how they are🤷🏽‍♀️if people were good they’d be good if they were trustworthy they’d tell the truth. I don’t know, it’s all just too much for me now a days and I chose to stay to myself. I wish I could be the kind social butterfly I think I am inside.

[blaria]

I knew someone online with RAD. She was misdiagnosed as autistic and eventually I’m like, ”No hun, you’re not autistic.” She would have zero empathy for me, did not tell me beforehand about her friend, vice versa. These types of people are isolated for a reason.

[kimcalderon]

I’ve never heard of this (RAD) ever I just happened to stubble upon a movie called troubled child so scary an heartbreaking

[debbiemichaud]

I think it is important to make sure that children who present with RAD are also assessed for FASD. These two disorders together can bring more complex challenges and implications for treatment as well.

[sofiamoreno]

isn't the beginning from the child of rage documentary. Beth thomas it's on Youtube

[TheFriendlyPsychopath]

As a child of the system since 3 months old I was abused every possible way you can abuse a human being as a child, I think the abuse was because I never reacted the way they wanted me to and it was impossible to emotionally trigger me, later on in life I was diagnosed with Primary psychopathy, looking back in retrospect I'm pretty sure I was born this way because the way i am is always how I been as far back as I can remember as a child.

[traceywalker]

WATCH OUT, THESE KIDS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. Speaking from experience, past Foster

[lexieg]

If a child is severely neglected from infancy and abused from early childhood and say, isn't taken out of that environment until like 10 years old,  is it a certainty that they will develop RAD or is it possible that RAD won't develop?

[ShebrewQueen]

Psycho ass children. My adoptive daughter has been diagnosed with rad. I regret every moment of adopting her. I am miserable. She’s horrible. Just a nightmare. I adopted another child who’s sweet and she’s now being tormented by this demon child. I had to put her in a psychiatric hospital for months. She sees a therapist every week; a psychiatrist monthly; mentor daily; medication; surrounded by love of my entire family - cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, new husband (who willingly took her on) and she’s still a demon. Even with all of this, I love her so much and it’s hurting me terribly, as I feel I need to turn her over to the state. I’m so afraid of walking into one of my children’s rooms and finding one or both of them dead. She’s suicidal and homicidal and the doctors just sends her home with stronger medication - that does nothing but sedate her. I don’t blame the doctors. But, my goodness. What do I do? 😫😩

[dogcomb]

If you were abused for the first 3 1/2 years of your life like that. Expect it will take at least 3 1/2 years more to deprogram the kid and to convience them they are safe. And that you are different from what they had experienced prior.

[lexieg]

So, does every single kid with RAD become violent or is violent? What about the inhibited type of RAD, I thought I've seen some cases of RAD where the child isn't violent they just withdraw and can't form attachments with carers because they fear them but are not violent with them?

[dragonflyinn]

My daughter has RAD AND SHE WAS NEVER LEFT NEGLECTED OR RAISED IN DRUGS ALCOHOL ABUSE ANY OF THESE APPARENT DIAGNOSES

[ireyna]

As a parent of RAD chid I can identify ☹️😥

[djMLE-]

The caregivers are the disordered ones here. Any kid in the system has these behaviors. Pretty sure this is not considered a diagnosis anymore, thank god.
I had “RAD”, and I was raised by a total narcissist that took that diagnosis, and made it all about her. I was constantly punished for simply subconsciously setting up defense mechanisms because I was so exhausted from people, taking me and giving up on me over and over and over again just like once again, every kid in the system is

[lexiejayd]

my foster care roommate threatens my pets and me and she manipulates everyone even the police when she’s having meltdowns. she follows me out of my room if i wanna hang out with my foster mum

[MasterofRandomness]

Oh did anyone else catch that jump cut edit at 1:31 where the lady with the brown hair and green jacket was speaking? BUSTED!