{"id":120639,"date":"2020-10-08T11:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T10:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=120639"},"modified":"2023-03-14T05:04:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T05:04:52","slug":"what-is-attachment-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/what-is-attachment-disorder.htm","title":{"rendered":"What is Attachment Disorder?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"attachment

photo by Kelly Sikkema<\/p><\/div>\n

by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n

Struggle in relationships, and worried you have an attachment disorder?<\/strong> It\u2019s actually a controversial phrase and diagnosis..<\/span><\/p>\n

What is attachment disorder?
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‘Attachment disorder’ is not an official mental health diagnosis. <\/strong>Instead, it’s an umbrella term sometimes used to refer to emotional and behavioural issues in adults, particularly with relating, that link back to lack of care when you were a child.<\/span><\/p>\n

‘Reactive attachment disorder’, on the other hand, is a real<\/strong> and quite serious diagnosis. But it’s only for children, and it is quite different in meaning from \u2018attachment disorder\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

All about attachment <\/span><\/h2>\n

To understand the use of the term<\/strong> ‘attachment disorder’, it is important to understand what attachment is. <\/span><\/p>\n

Attachment theory<\/a> was proposed by British child psychiatrist John Bowlby. It suggests that in order to grow up into <\/strong>adults who can form healthy relationships<\/a>, we need to have had at least one caregiver as a young child who we could trust<\/a>. They kept us safe, and were reliable and consistent with affection and care. <\/span><\/p>\n

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If we didn\u2019t get this, if we were passed from caregiver to caregiver? Or our main caregiver was not mentally or physically well, for example, or was simply unable to love a child? Then we end up with what are called \u2018attachment issues\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Our adult relationships end up difficult, and cause emotional or behavioural difficulties.<\/strong> We are too anxious<\/a>, and end up acting impulsively<\/a>. Or we are too detached, or we push and pull other people<\/a>. Or perhaps we are so shut off we can\u2019t even engage in real intimacy<\/a> at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are symptoms of attachment disorder in adults? <\/span><\/h2>\n
\"attachment

photo by: Brooke Cagle<\/p><\/div>\n

The symptoms aren\u2019t exact, given that<\/strong> it isn\u2019t really a classified \u2018disorder\u2019. (This is a good thing. In general, disorders can only be managed, not resolved. Attachment issues, on the other hand, can be dealt with.) But in general, symptoms in adults can look like:<\/span><\/p>\n