What are signs and symptoms of developmental or relational trauma?

What are signs and symptoms of developmental or relational trauma?

Insecure attachments influence the developing brain, which in turn affects future interactions with others, self-esteem, self-control, and the ability to learn and to achieve optimum mental and physical health. Symptoms can include the following:

• Low self esteem
• Needy, clingy or pseudo-independent behavior
• Inability to deal with stress and adversity
• Lack of self-control
• Inability to develop and maintain friendships
• Alienation from and opposition to parents, caregivers, and other authority figures
• Antisocial attitudes and behaviors
• Aggression and violence
• Difficulty with genuine trust, intimacy, and affection
• Negative, hopeless, pessimistic view of self, family and society
• Lack of empathy, compassion and remorse
• Behavioral and academic problems at school
• Speech and language problems
• Incessant chatter and questions
• Difficulty learning
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Apathy
• Susceptibility to chronic illness
• Obsession with food: hordes, gorges, refuses to eat, eats strange things, hides food
• Repetition of the cycle of maltreatment and attachment disorder in their own children when they reach adulthood