Signs of Attachment Disorder in Teens and What You Can Do to Help

Does your teen show signs of defiance or excessive anxiety? If so, they may be struggling with an attachment disorder.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), approximately 32 percent of 13-18-year-olds living in the United States have experienced some form of anxiety which may be rooted in a deeper cause.

What is an attachment disorder?

An attachment disorder is a disorder of social functioning. It is a mental health condition that makes it difficult for a person to form and maintain healthy emotional connections with others. Typically, it is the result of early life relational trauma such as inconsistent care-giving, neglect, or abuse during infancy or early childhood that prevented the child from bonding with their primary caregiver.

How do attachment disorders affect teens?

Attachment disorders can affect teens in many different ways. They may, for example, lead to low self-esteem, a struggle with academic achievement, and difficulty forming close relationships. Teens with attachment disorders are also more prone to engage in substance abuse and/or reckless behavior such as driving under the influence of alcohol or having unprotected sex.

One of the challenges of working with teens who have an attachment disorder is that it is often masked by other issues such as anger, substance abuse, rebelliousness, anxiety, depression, or poor performance at school. This makes it easy to focus on those problem behaviors and miss the deeper issue at their core.

Red flags to lookout for.

• Lack of eye contact.
• Difficulty trusting others or opening up to them.
• Poor social skills.
• Trouble making friends.
• Unresponsive to comfort.
• Avoiding physical contact or flinching when touched.
• Pulling away from or pushing away anyone who attempts to get close or connect emotionally.
• Isolating.
• Trouble managing their emotions.
• Intense reactions to changes in routine.
• Failure to smile.
• Acting out at school.
• Risky behaviors such as driving while intoxicated.
• Substance abuse.
• Sudden emotional outbursts.
• Defiance and disrespect toward figures of authority.
• Anxiety.
• Blaming others for their mistakes or challenges.
• Low self-esteem.

Ways you can help your teen cope with an attachment disorder.

You can start by educating yourself about attachment disorders so you can better understand what your teen is going through. Things like parenting classes can also help you learn how to respond appropriately to your teen.

Ideally, you can make your home a safe, stable, supportive environment that provides your teen with a sense of security. Take time to listen to your teen, and treat them with respect as you validate their emotions and pay attention to their needs. Help your teen identify and accept their feelings without judging them and learn how to express the feelings in healthy ways.

It is also important to establish boundaries to provide consistency and stability to make their world more predictable. Set consequences for undesirable behaviors and be consistent about following through. It can also help to encourage your teen to go to therapy.

Effective treatment options for teen attachment disorders.

Attachment Therapy Attachment therapy is a form of psychotherapy (talk therapy) that can help your teen identify and make sense of their feelings, change troubling thoughts, emotions, and problem behaviors, and provide them with healthy coping strategies.

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)

Attachment-based family therapy focuses on learning new ways of interacting and responding to one another and repairing damage in relationships. One way is by helping the family understand their teen’s condition, learn how to effectively communicate with them, and improve parenting skills by learning positive behavior management and communication strategies. Attachment-based family therapy is particularly effective in reducing impulsive and aggressive behavior in teens.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based treatment option that has consistently been found to be effective in treating teens with attachment disorders. The focus of CBT is on helping teens identify, challenge, and replace distorted thoughts and belief systems, and change destructive patterns of behavior.

Equine Therapy

Teens with attachment disorders have trouble forming relationships and interacting with people. Therapy such as equine therapy, which involves caring for animals, has a calming effect and teaches them how to nurture, as well as form and maintain a relationship with a living thing.

Next steps

If you have questions or would like to set up a risk-free appointment to meet with one of the faith-based counselors at Los Angeles Christian Counseling, please give us a call today.