Inhibited and Disinhibited Reactive

The author of “Decide Now: The Good Life or The Best Life,” L. Jay Mitchell is the innovative founder and owner of several successful residential programs for emotionally challenged adolescents. Possessing upwards of four decades of experience, L. Jay Mitchell leads Greenbrier Academy as the founder. He understands a range of psychological conditions, including reactive attachment disorder (RAD). This disorder occurs when babies and children do not form a healthy emotional attachment to their primary caregiver.

RAD often appears before the age of five. Symptoms are tantrums, avoiding eye contact, and displaying inappropriate affection towards strangers. RAD appears in two forms, inhibited or disinhibited.

Inhibited RAD occurs when children do not respond normally to outside stimuli. They are still aware but often unresponsive or withdrawn when confronted with changes. Children who exhibit inhibited RAD symptoms resist comforting, push others away, or act out in aggression when peers or caregivers get too close.

Children who exhibit disinhibited RAD symptoms are overly friendly toward strangers. They seek attention and comfort from nearly anyone. Kids with disinhibited RAD are very dependent and anxious. They seek affection in unsafe ways and act younger than their age.