[amanda_p]

Can anyone tell me what is involved? My husband and I went to a psychiatrist today, and she will meet Drew tomorrow....I actually thought we were going there because of ADHD, but she didnt think that was the problem. I have always thought Drew's attachment was fine. I was never really concerned about it once we brought him home, however I did get worried about it prior to the adoption. I have read so many things online, but wanted to get stories from you guys about how the therapy has worked.

Thanks guys

[momraine]

If you visit the special needs boards they can talk more about it. You might want to be careful, because for many pyschologists they are just now hearing about RAD and are over-diagnosing it. It's also difficult to find one that really does understand it. Regular therapy is not helpful to true RAD, you need a specialist.

[GCS]

I'd also post on the FRUA board. Many attachment challenged kids there.

I have to wonder about this dx. Since you do know about attachment and have read up on it and you know the signs. I'd be more inclined to lean the therapists way if you were completely unfamiliar with AD. Is this an attachment therapist (speciality)? She hasn't even met him yet and she's leaning towards attachment disorder? She hasn't mentioned RAD just attachment disorder?

I'm not saying she's wrong or to even see another therapist at this time, but I would go to all the attachment links look at the checklists there and be ready to have a conversation with her about this after she meets with your son. You can always get a 2nd opinion later.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

[beckyww]

RAD seems to be coming a 'flavor of the day.' I'd stand in momraine's "amen corner" here.

I'd also say....perhaps politically incorrect...unless that therapist has true RAD experience, I'd be tempted to tell my pedi, "I want to try standard ADHD medication. I want to see if it works. If it doesn't, I'll need your help seeking out a RAD-trained therapist. If it does, I will BOTL for signs of RAD behavior."

I don't have any RAD kiddos but I do have two with ADD (including Julia, whom we got at age 6 from St. Pete) and I can tell you - you know when they've taken their meds, and when they haven't. BOY do you know when they haven't!

If Drew starts taking ADHD meds - you'll know pretty quickly if they're helping w/the issues you've identified. The differences in behavior are dramatic - at least in my kiddos.

Becky
This Reminds Me

[angelkisses0102]

You need to find an experienced, real attachment therapist....try A4everFamily.org - HOME or Welcome to Attachment & Trauma Network* - ATN. Real therapists are few and far between and have very long waiting lists. Some therapists do phone consults...like Heather T. Forbes, LCSW which is a parenting style I highly support and use.

Hypervigilence and ADHD can look very similiar...speaking from a mom who has a now healed AD child and a 'true' ADHD child.

As was stated above unless you use a real AT for attachment therapy, you will only make the child worse. AT is family based...you will learn how to parent the child more than the child will 'get therapy.' I second the special needs forum here or the radzebra yahoo group for getting real life experience from other parents of RAd children.

Also, PM kretzklan here...she is living this right now and has shared much here and through her blog.

All the best!

[Katie63011]

Amanda,

Call or email me. We used an attachment therapist locally and you definitely need a specialist. I'll let you know what we went through and what led us to seek some help.

I second what Karen said about the therapist meeting with Drew. Ours didn't, she met with me and Pete exclusively, it was really more parent coaching and educating.

Katie

[k8c]

I'm in the corner, too. AMEN! RAD is way overdiagnosed, imho. And, to say that without having seen your family together is ridiculous--also imho. I mean, come on.

This is by NO means a scientific dx, but many adhd kiddos are helped by caffeine. A dixie cup of Coke at lunchtime was rx'd for a little boy I taught. it made a difference.

It doesn't for everyone, but it might give you some idea of what's going on in that little brain. If caffeine helps him settle and focus (um...I think I self-medicate...) then ADHD meds could help as well.