Thursday, September 24, 2015

RAD, is not a cool term

Doing a little bit of studying on RAD Reaction Detachment Disorder. It is a condition of one of my students that I have this year. Here is the first paragraph I read which truly brought me to tears. Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is a condition found in children who have received grossly negligent care and do not form a healthy emotional attachment with their primary caregivers -- usually their mothers -- before age 5. Attachment develops when a child is repeatedly soothed, comforted, and cared for, and when the caregiver consistently meets the child's needs. It is through attachment with a loving and protective caregiver that a young child learns to love and trust others, to become aware of others' feelings and needs, to regulate his or her emotions, and to develop healthy relationships and a positive self-image. The absence of emotional warmth during the first few years of life can negatively affect a child's entire future. I will go more into this disorder at another time as to how I have been learning to deal with her condition. It is all so overwhelming and a hard concept to learn. This is a real tough one. It makes me sad that I don't feel I have the skills for what she really needs at school but where do these kids go has been the biggest question. I am finding its not an easy answer.