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Reactive Attachment Disorder Support and Resources

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

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! 


What Is Reactive Attachment Disorder



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 4 Steps to Understanding RAD Behaviors Reactive Attachment Disorder and Lying Worst Cases of Reactive Attachment Disorder RAD Treatment for Children 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 What NOT to Do with a RAD Child Anger Management for Kids 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 A Safety Plan for Mental Health 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 When food is your child's enemy The Choice to Medicate Your Special Needs Child What Does Normal Look Like?It's Personal:  Burn OutPreparing for an appointment with a developmental pediatricianThe Realities of Reactive Attachment Disorder and Mental Health TherapyI Think There's Something Wrong with My ChildRAD:  Trust and ParentingRAD:  Behaviors and Consequences


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 I Hate My RAD Child 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 The Challenge with Morning Routines Montessori Floor Bed for Baby What Happens at School Stays at School Our Pediatric Mental Health Crisis To Be a Mother of a Young Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder The Montessori Floor Bed and Special Needs I Just Want to Feel Safe When Nightmares Become RealityAm I Going Crazy?Day to Day Life Parenting A Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder A Birth Mother's LoveDiagnosis Day From the Mother of a BullySunshine and Reactive Attachment DisorderTo Princess:  The Day I Became Your MotherTo Sunshine: The Day I Became YOur MotherDecision to Homeschool 

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


When Do I Consider Residential Treatment for My Child Goodbye Sunshine Fleeing for Safety It's Time to Have a Serious Talk about Residential Treatment Centers How Do You Work with a Broken Mental Health System? The System Failed Us Horribly She Needs a Forensics Exam Reactive Attachment Disorder and Food Struggles


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   Free Christmas Visual Schedule for Kids Trick-or-treating social story Incident Questionnaires for ParentsFun 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 ChewMust Have Fidget Toys

Books and Movies


Holidays and PTSD: A Parent's Guide to Survival Movie Review:  The Boarder      Book Review:  Beyond Consequences

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.

Reactive Attachment Disorder Support and Resources



5 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment. It made my day. I wish I could give you a hug, hopefully a virtual one will suffice. I am so thankful that you were able to find comfort in what I have written. It is such a lonely road, being a parent of a child with RAD. Know I am always here. Much love!

      Renae

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  2. 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.

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    1. You're very welcome. You are not alone. You are loved. You are amazing!

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  3. 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.

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