Usually, a child will establish a deep and secure connection with their primary caregiver in the very early stages of life. When this secure connection has failed to take place, attachment disorders may prevail.
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A strong connection is required in order for a child to feel safe, loved, confident and with the skills to manage life events. Without this connection, emotional and behavioural issues can occur.
Attachment Disorders
The cause of attachment disorders is unknown, although it is thought that they may stem from inadequate care provided by a primary caregiver.
Reactive attachment disorder is characterised by a reluctance to interact with other people, as a result of negative experiences with adults in early years. Disinhibited attachment disorder shows children displaying overfriendliness and no awareness of stranger danger.
Attachment disorders can result from difficulties in early relationships. Inadequate care, abuse, or neglect can all result in physical, emotional and social problems as a child grows older.
A specialised plan is needed in order to treat attachment disorders, which may contain a variety of methods.
Mental Health Training Courses
Having an understanding of mental health issues is crucial for anyone who regularly works or comes into contact with others in a supportive capacity.
Specialist providers of mental health training courses deliver a wide range of courses, covering subjects such as attachment disorders, bipolar disorder, challenging behaviour, and drug and alcohol abuse.
By taking the time to upskill, you are able to deliver a higher quality of care while, at the same time, safeguarding your organisation.
Summary
This article introduces attachment disorders, explaining that they can develop when a child fails to form a secure early bond with their primary caregiver, leading to emotional and behavioural issues. It distinguishes reactive attachment disorder, marked by reluctance to interact with others, from disinhibited attachment disorder, marked by overfriendliness and no awareness of stranger danger, and points to mental health training courses covering attachment disorders as a way to improve care and safeguarding.
Questions this article raises
- At what age can attachment disorders typically be reliably diagnosed?
- What treatment methods are most effective for reactive attachment disorder?
- Who should consider taking a mental health training course covering attachment disorders?
