An interesting conservation with Grok (about developmental disorder)

 

An interesting conservation with Grok

About Developmental Trauma and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

Excerpts: Reactive attachment disorder happens when a child doesn't form secure emotional bonds with caregivers, usually due to neglect, abuse, or frequent changes in primary caretakers early in life…

Main causes of reactive attachment disorder stem from serious disruptions in early caregiving-like neglect, physical or emotional abuse, or abandonment.

Developmental trauma, sometimes called developmental trauma disorder, refers to the psychological and neurological impact of repeated or chronic trauma during childhood, particularly in the critical early years when the brain is rapidly developing. It’s broader than reactive attachment disorder, encompassing not just attachment issues but a range of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems caused by prolonged exposure to stress, abuse, neglect, or unstable environments.

Causes

It’s rooted in early, ongoing adverse experiences, such as:

• Chronic neglect: Not getting consistent physical or emotional care (e.g., ignored cries, unmet needs).

• Abuse: Physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment.

• Caregiver instability: Frequent changes in primary caregivers, like foster care shifts or parental abandonment.

• Domestic violence: Witnessing or experiencing violence in the home.

• Parental issues: Caregivers struggling with addiction, mental illness, or their own trauma, which impairs their ability to provide stable, nurturing care. These disrupt the child’s sense of safety and ability to regulate emotions, as the brain’s stress response system (like the HPA axis) gets stuck in overdrive, altering neural pathways.

Effects

Kids with developmental trauma might show:

• Emotional dysregulation: Intense mood swings, anxiety, or anger outbursts.

• Attachment issues: Trouble trusting or connecting, similar to reactive attachment disorder, but broader (e.g., hypervigilance or dissociation).

• Cognitive struggles: Problems with focus, memory, or learning due to stress impacting brain areas like the prefrontal cortex.

• Behavioral issues: Aggression, withdrawal, or risky behaviors as coping mechanisms.

• Physical symptoms: Chronic stress can lead to health issues like headaches or immune system problems.

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The full conversation is here. https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg%3D%3D_eb1aa07c-7697-444e-b9b9-3f698c04c3a2

Only about 1-2% of the population has RAD, myself included. There is a related, compensatory ‘disorder’, disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) in which people make quick bonds with strangers while ignoring family members. This set of developmental trauma issues FINALLY explains my life, never letting anyone close and schmoozing my way through the world very comfortably with strangers. 

Grok is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) app of X formally known as Twitter, by Elon Musk. Grok now has a Grokipedia which, I predict, will soon overtake and replace Wikipedia.