Here’s what being a RAD mama looks like…
In addition to being a RAD mama, I'm also a chicken mama. This is Chicken Nugget, my favorite hen (she was named by one of my kids, not me!). She's a Buff Orpington and very friendly so I like to pick her up and carry her around with me when I […]
What is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)?
Explore the complexities of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a mental disorder resulting from adverse childhood experiences (ACES). Uncover the causes and impact of developmental trauma on children, and the challenges faced by parents. Learn how therapeutic parenting strategies can transform the constant tug-of-war with RAD-diagnosed children. Discover the power of dropping […]
Signs and symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder
Reactive Attachment Disorder symptoms, survey results […]
When they say RAD isn’t a “real” diagnosis…
"Saying RAD is not a 'real' diagnosis is like arguing Bipolar I Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder are not 'real' diagnoses." My son was first diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) by a licensed clinician at 11-years-old. He subsequently received this diagnosis from several psychiatrists in mental health treatment facilities and […]
What is Developmental Trauma
To better serve children with developmental trauma, Kolk has proposed adding a new diagnosis to the DSM called Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD). The new diagnostic criteria requires exposure to chronic trauma before the age of 5. This diagnosis would fully encompass the symptoms of developmental trauma bringing them under one umbrella. […]
The ugly truth about trauma
Understanding the devastating impact of early childhood trauma requires a paradigm shift. It's invisible to the untrained eye so we tend to minimize its severity, but it's like a huge gaping trauma wounds. […]
Developmental Trauma and Psychosis
Though not symptoms of their developmental trauma, some children report hearing voices, seeing "beings," or seem delusional. Here are the potential causes and what parents need to do about it. […]
Understanding the long-term impact of early childhood trauma
Due to trauma during her early development, the lens Kayla viewed the world through was warped. It made even loving caregivers seem unsafe. Situations and people all appeared unpredictable. Kayla likely had no conscious awareness of this and she certainly could not verbalize it. […]
Why adoption stories aren’t fairy tales
Adoption finalization is a reason to celebrate. Parents have filled out mountains of paperwork, waited months or years and shed many tears to get to that moment. They wear matching tee-shirts, eat way too much cake and splash photos all over social media. Adoption day is so momentous that it feels […]
California Looks To Lead Nation In Unraveling Childhood Trauma
Imagine identifying a toxin so potent it could rewire a child’s brain and erode his immune system. A substance that, in high doses, tripled the risk of heart disease and lung cancer and reduced life expectancy by 20 years. And then realizing that tens of millions of American children had been […]
2/3 of kids with RAD are first misdiagnosed with ADHD
Our recent Facebook poll showed that 67% of children first misdiagnosed with RAD (and other developmental trauma diagnoses) were first diagnosed with ADHD. […]
Childhood Trauma Leads to Brains Wired for Fear
This story was produced by Side Effects Public Media, a news collaborative covering public health. Negative childhood experiences can set our brains to constantly feel danger and fear says psychiatrist and traumatic stress expert Bessel van der Kolk. He's the author of the recently published book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of […]
RAD, DTD – What’s all the controversy about?
One too many times, I’ve been told reactive attachment disorder (RAD)—the result of a child’s early trauma—isn’t a “real” diagnosis. […]
What is Conduct Disorder?
I stand in the bathroom stall of the courthouse, texting a friend. “I can't do this,” I write and lean my head against the cold partition of the stall. “You've got this,” she replies. “Breathe, Honey.” I hear the restroom door open and a singsong voice I recognize as my daughter, […]
Conduct Disorder (CD) – Early detection
First published by Milk & Hugs, and republished with permission. The Worry… Early childhood is a wondrous time of life, for both children and parents. Watching young minds form and bodies grow is one of the true joys of parenthood. As parents, we want the best for our children. We have […]