Jake's symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms of RAD:

I will mark the ones that Jake displays most of the time and the ones that he doesn't. To be diagnosed with RAD a child only has to display half of the symptoms and have only one cause.

• Superficially charming and engaging, particularly around strangers or those who they feel they can manipulate JAKE YES
• Indiscriminate affection, often to strangers; but not affectionate on parent’s terms JAKE-YES
• Problems making eye contact, except when angry or lying JAKE-YES
• A severe need to control everything and everyone; worsens as the child gets older JAKE-YES
• Hyper-vigilant JAKE-YES
• Hyperactive, yet lazy in performing tasks JAKE-YES
• Argumentative, often over silly or insignificant things JAKE-YES
• Frequent tantrums or rage, often over trivial issues JAKE-YES
  Demanding or clingy, often at inappropriate times JAKE-YES
• Trouble understanding cause and effect JAKE-YES
• Poor impulse control JAKE-YES
• Lacks morals, values, and spiritual faith JAKE-NO
• Little or no empathy; often have not developed a conscience JAKE-YES
• Cruelty to animals JAKE-NO
• Lying for no apparent reason JAKE-SOMETIMES
• False allegations of abuse JAKE-SOMETIMES
• Destructive to property or self JAKE-YES
• Stealing JAKE-YES
• Constant chatter; nonsense questions JAKE-YES
• Abnormal speech patterns; uninterested in learning communication skills JAKE-NO
• Developmental / Learning delays JAKE-NO
• Fascination with fire, blood and gore, weapons, evil; will usually make the bad choice JAKE-NO
• Problems with food; either hoarding it or refusing to eat JAKE -YES NOT WITH REFUSING TO EAT, JUST HOARDING FOOD
• Concerned with details, but ignoring the main issues JAKE-YES
• Few or no long term friends; tend to be loners JAKE-NOT REALLY
• Attitude of entitlement and self-importance JAKE-YES
• Sneaks things without permission even if he could have had them by asking JAKE-YES
• Triangulation of adults; pitting one against the other JAKE-YES ESPECIALLY WITH NEW PEOPLE
• A darkness behind the eyes when raging JAKE-YES

It's been really hard because people don't seem to believe us that Jake has this disorder. They think he is fine, because that is what he wants to show everyone else. We know better and our therapy this week is showing that we are doing the right things!