Attachment disorder is a serious problem. But how serious is it? One of the ways to see the story behind the heartbreaking issue of attachment disorder is to look at some of the statistics about youth provided by governmental welfare agencies in the US. In this article, we will take a look at what, exactly, attachment disorder is, as well as some informative attachment disorder statistics. We will then look at how parents can prevent such a thing from ever happening to their own children, or even children in their care.
What Is It?
Attachment disorder can manifest itself through behavioral, mental, cognitive, physical, or a variety of other issues. Most often, attachment disorder means that children cannot develop important relationships and social skills later in life. This disorder can be recognized by a large number of symptoms, like anger and emotional issues, moodiness, a tendency to seem untrusting or disconnected. These children may often also blame others and play the victim frequently. If you think that one of your children may have problems with attachment disorder, it may be best to seek out the help of a professional counselor, or take them to a medical professional for evaluation.
Statistics
Statistics gathered by the US government show that the overwhelming majority (around 8 of every 10) of children raised in an environment with trauma in their early years could be effected by attachment disorder. Of these children at least one of the ten will not be able to function normally emotionally. Indeed, people in these organizations have seen a huge upswing in the number of children in their care who have serious issues with attachment disorders. Around three million cases of maltreatment are actually investigated by Child Protective Services per year, and millions more may very well go unreported.
How to Prevent It
Preventing attachment disorder is very important if you wish to see your children grow up to be happy and healthy. Although some factors, like poverty or premature birth, may not be able to be controlled, some others can be. You should do your best to remove your child from violent situations. Do your best to give them the support that they need, whether you are a parent, or an extended family member who is concerned. Try to make sure that your child is not isolated, and that they are given plenty of opportunity to express themselves in healthy ways.
