Attachment Disorders Start During Childhood

Children with attachment disorders have difficulty trusting anyone. Attachment disorders lead to other psychological problems including antisocial behavior, mistrust, poor empathy skills, poor peer skills, and behavior problems. People with attachment disorders have difficulty 'fitting in' in society.

Forming a secure attachment is a complex process which is influenced by many things including genetics, environmental influences, instinctual imprinting, and brain development. Infants who have problems in these areas can grow up to have attachment disorders.

Attachment starts when a mother holds her newborn infant. Attachment enhances survival. By taking care of the basic needs so that the infant is able to survive mothers insure that their infants bond to them. This is called attachment. When this attachment is not present, or is present but weak, an attachment disorder begins.

Most animals are able to care for themselves shortly after they are born. Humans cannot. Survival of the human race requires instinctual attachment. Mothers are drawn to their children instinctively. Mothers care for and protect their children because of this instinctual attachment. A secure attachment is critical for success in life.

Children instinctively look to their mothers for nourishment and protection. When infants need food, shelter, heat, or anything else they look to their mothers to provide for them. When infants are hungry they cry. When a mother hears her baby cry she doesn't have to train herself to respond, her instinctual attachment to her infant elicits an immediate response. Mothers drop everything and run to the aide of their child when they sense danger.

Infants of drug addicts often do not form normal, secure attachments because of the instability of the parents. Mothers who are using drugs often lose sight of what is important and do not give stable care to their children. Infants who aren't given care when needed do not learn to trust their parents. Babies who are harmed by their parents struggle with the same issue.