Insecure Attachment and Attachment Disorders

When infants and young children have a loving caregiver consistently responding to their needs, they build a secure attachment. This lifelong bond affects growth, development, trust and the ability to build relationships. However, severely confusing, frightening and isolating emotional experiences early in life disrupts this bond, creating insecure attachment. In extreme circumstances, this can result in attachment disorders. Problems with attachment limit a child’s ability to be emotionally present, flexible and able to communicate in ways that build satisfying and meaningful relationships. The earlier attachment disruptions are caught, the better. However, it is never too late to treat and repair attachment difficulties. With the right tools, and a healthy dose of time, patience and love, attachment repair can and does happen.

What is insecure attachment?
Attachment is the process of bonding between an infant’s primary caretaker, usually the mother, and the infant. Infants are helpless from birth, and need consistent, loving responses to their needs for food, sleep and comfort. As the infant grows, so does the bond of trust with the primary caregiver. Secure attachment has a lifelong effect on growth, development, trust and relationships.

If a child is not provided this consistent, loving care, insecure attachments form. Children with insecure attachments have learned that the world is not a safe place. They don’t have the experiences they need to feel confident in themselves and trust in others. Because attachment is a fundamental part of children’s development that affects the growing brain, insecure attachment shows itself in many different ways. Children may have trouble with learning, may be aggressive and act out, be excessively clingy, have difficulty making friends, suffer anxiety or depression, or be developmentally delayed. In cases of severe deprivation, abuse or neglect, attachment disorders may form. Attachment disruptions and disorders often have similar symptoms of disorders such as ADHD or autism and may be misdiagnosed.

Causes of Insecure Attachment and Attachment Disorders
The caregiver is unable to provide for the child. Sometimes, parents may love and intend the best for their children, but not know themselves how to provide the care the children need. They may have a history of abuse, depression, trauma or be overwhelmed by work and childcare responsibilities. A medical emergency may have occurred in the parent, making care very difficult. A death or trauma in the family can also have enormous impact.
Abuse and neglect. If the primary caregiver is a source of pain and terror, as in physical or emotional abuse, a secure attachment cannot form. Parents who abuse alcohol and drugs may have a lowered threshold for violence and are at increased risk for neglecting their children.
Constantly changing caregivers. Insecure attachment can also occur if the child has very little interaction with a primary caregiver, but instead has a succession of childcare providers that are not attuned to the child and do not stay in the child’s life.
Children in institutional care. Children in institutional care have not only lost their primary caregiver but may have lived in conditions where they cannot form a secure bond. Children in a succession of foster or group homes, or children adopted from overseas who have lived in orphanages, are at risk.
Child illness or disability. Infants with long hospital stays, where they have been isolated and alone, are also at risk. Parents may also feel overwhelmed with an infant’s needs if the infant is constantly sick and in pain, withdrawing or lashing out at the child because they don’t know what to do.