Emotional attachment disorder in adults

Most mental health symptoms stem from attachment problems, but surprisingly, findings from these studies on attachment theory are rarely applied in mental health treatment settings. Jade was only 21 years old but had spent a cumulative seven years in different types of therapy. She suffered from intense anxiety that impacted everything she did throughout the day. The coping skills she learned in therapy were helpful for a time, but life in the real world was too overwhelming and the therapeutic coping skills always fell by the wayside. Jade wanted to enjoy life. Then her parents asked her to try one more treatment program.

Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us protect, support, and save lives. You were born preprogrammed to bond with one very significant person—your primary caregiver, probably your mother. Like all infants, you were a bundle of emotions—intensely experiencing fear, anger, sadness, and joy.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Attachment disorder is a general term for conditions that cause people to have a hard time connecting and forming meaningful relationships with others. Both are generally only diagnosed in children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years.

Attachment issues fall on a spectrum, from mild problems that are easily addressed to the most serious form, known as reactive attachment disorder RAD. Reactive attachment disorder is a condition where the child is unable to establish healthy attachment with their parent or primary caretaker. Children with RAD have been so disrupted in early life that their future relationships are also impaired. They may experience difficulty relating to others and are often developmentally delayed. Reactive attachment disorder is common in children who have been abused, bounced around in foster care, lived in orphanages, or taken away from their primary caregiver after establishing a bond.