Adult Attachment Disorder

Adult Attachment disorder (AAD) is the result of untreated Attachment Disorder, or Reactive Attachment Disorder, that develops in adults when it goes untreated in children. It begins with children who were disallowed proper parent-guardian relationships early in their youth,[1] or were abused by an adult in their developmental stages in life. Belonging to the study of attachment theory, causes and symptoms are rooted in human relationships over the course of one's lifetime, and how these relationships developed and functioned. Symptoms typically focus around neglect, dysfunction, abuse, and trust issues in all forms of their relationships.[2] These symptoms are similar to those of other attachment disorders, but focus more on relationships later in life rather than those in earlier years.[3] To be considered to be suffering from AAD, you must demonstrate at least 2-3 of its symptoms. These symptoms include: impulsiveness, desire for control, lack of trust, lack of responsibility, and addiction.[4] While the DSM-V does not recognize it as an official disorder, Adult Attachment disorder is currently being studied by several groups and treatment is being developed.[4] Some of these studies suggest splitting AAD into two groups, avoidance and anxious/ambivalent. More [5] and advanced medical practice advocates for four categorisations;

Secure: Low on avoidance, low on anxiety. Avoidant: High on avoidance, low on anxiety. Anxious: Low on avoidance, high on anxiety. Anxious and Avoidant: High on avoidance, high on anxiety.

Symptoms and specifics

Adult Attachment Disorder develops when an attachment disorder, such as Reactive Attachment Disorder, goes untreated in youth and continues on into adulthood. Although symptoms are no longer carbon copies of what they were in childhood, they are significantly similar to them. Some researchers have begun to suggest that this is because adult relationships are similar to the relationship between infants and caregivers in that they are a type of attachment. Similarities between the two types of relationships include, but are not limited to: a feeling of safety when in proximity to your partner, close contact, shared interest and preoccupation with each other, and engaging in "baby talk".[1]

While there are similarities to other attachment disorders, Adult Attachment Disorder is starting to be recognized as its own disease due to some of the symptoms that are not present like in other attachment disorders. Some of these symptoms include: greater likelihood of addiction, impulsiveness, behaviors that are socially negative or inappropriate, desire for control, trust issues, unwillingness to accept responsibility, helplessness, anxiety, superficial positivity and depression.

Even though the DSM-V does not yet recognize Adult Attachment Disorder per se, many places are doing research on it and proposing therapies to help deal with the disorder.[3] There are many different levels of severity dealing with the disorder. All of them could benefit from therapy. There are multiple types of therapies that have claimed to at least partially treat this disorder. Some meant for prevention of disorders, mostly families who have experienced these disorders prior. Other therapies include outpatient, residential and wilderness therapy. Most of the therapies researched emphasize effective communication, as well as problem solving strategies. They also focus on finding the roots to the attachment that most likely evolved sometime in early childhood. Included in these is a controversial treatment known as attachment holding or "in arms" treatment available for caregivers and adolescents. This therapy believes a child must release their frustration with caregivers before they are able to trust them.[6][7]

Society and Culture
  • Adolf Hitler: Aggressive, disapproving father who was abusive to him in his childhood[8]
  • Saddam Hussein: Abused by stepfather; neglected by mother[9]
  • Edgar Allan Poe: Father disappeared and mother died in early years; foster father both spoiled and aggressively disciplined him in his youth[10]
  • Charles Manson: Neglectful mother who became incarcerated in his early years; spent a lot of time with various babysitters[11]
  • Ted Bundy: Raised by grandparents to believe his mother was his older sister; Grandfather was aggressive and abusive[12][13]
  • Jeffrey Dahmer: Severely neglected by parents from early infancy; deprived of attention[14]
  • Helen Keller: Became blind and deaf at early age, felt very much alone; parents became exhausted of care and sent her away, where she then overcame her attachment disorder[15]

References
  1. "A Brief Overview of Adult Attachment Theory and Research | R. Chris Fraley". labs.psychology.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  2. "Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adults | HealthyPlace". www.healthyplace.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  3. "Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Other Attachment Issues: Symptoms, Treatment, and Hope for Children with Attachment Disorders". www.helpguide.org. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  4. "Adult Attachment Disorder Treatment - Fulshear Treatment".
  5. https://www.evergreenpsychotherapycenter.com/styles-adult-attachment/. Missing or empty |title= (help)>recent
  6. Levy, Terry M.; Orlans, Michael (2001), "Attachment Disorder as an Antecedent to Violence and Antisocial Patterns in Children", Handbook of Attachment Interventions, Elsevier, pp. 1–26, doi:10.1016/b978-012445860-4/50002-2, ISBN 9780124458604
  7. Lake, Peter M. (2007). "Recognizing and Treating Reactive Attachment Disorder". Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. 2 (1): 95–105. doi:10.19157/jtsp.issue.02.01.06. ISSN 2469-3030.
  8. "What Is Known About Adolf Hitler's Childhood?". YourDictionary.
  9. "Saddam Hussein Biography - life, family, childhood, children, story, history, wife, school, mother, young". www.notablebiographies.com.
  10. Meyers, Jeffrey (1992). Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy (Paperback ed.). New York: Cooper Square Press. ISBN 978-0-8154-1038-6.
  11. Guinn, Jeff. Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson. Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 1451645163
  12. Rule, Ann (2009). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; updated 2009 ed.). New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 1-4165-5959-0.
  13. 1948-, Michaud, Stephen G. (1989). Ted Bundy : conversations with a killer. Aynesworth, Hugh, 1931-, Bundy, Ted. New York, N.Y.: New American Library. ISBN 978-0451163554. OCLC 20060781.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. Martens, Willem (2011). "Sadism Linked to Loneliness: Psychodynamic dimensions of the Sadistic Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer". Psychoanalytic Review. 98 (4): 493–514. doi:10.1521/prev.2011.98.4.493. PMID 21864144.
  15. "2006 March « Amazing Parents". amazingparents.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
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