When kids don't get what they need at certain points in life - like touching, cuddling, rocking - they can become developmentally delayed at that point. This is exacerbated in the cases of abuse and neglect. When a child finds themselves being cared for, and starts the process of trusting a caregiver, the process of attaching includes going through the phases that were halted. It sounds to me like your 14 year old is acting like a normal 4 year old - right at the point he was removed from the unsuitable environment.
There could also be an element of hyper-vigilance going on here - which would make total sense.
Give it time, he'll continue to progress and I expect will - at some point - grow out of it.
Does he have a therapist and/or a psychiatrist? If so, what does his diagnosis look like?
Something else to think about is the "Anxious Sub-Type" of Reactive Attachment Disorder. Given your boy's situation, it wouldn't be suprising if he does have attachment issues.
The anxious sub-type is:
clingy, anxious, shows separation anxieties, among other symptoms.
I am not a pyschologist or psychiatrist. Nor have I ever met your child. I'm not qualified to make any kind of diagnosis - but this is something I would definately bring up with your boy's mental health-care provider.
When Kids Don't Get What They Need
When kids don't get what they need at certain points in life - like touching, cuddling, rocking - they can become developmentally delayed at that point. This is exacerbated in the cases of abuse and neglect. When a child finds themselves being cared for, and starts the process of trusting a caregiver, the process of attaching includes going through the phases that were halted. It sounds to me like your 14 year old is acting like a normal 4 year old - right at the point he was removed from the unsuitable environment.
There could also be an element of hyper-vigilance going on here - which would make total sense.
Give it time, he'll continue to progress and I expect will - at some point - grow out of it.
Does he have a therapist and/or a psychiatrist? If so, what does his diagnosis look like?
Something else to think about is the "Anxious Sub-Type" of Reactive Attachment Disorder. Given your boy's situation, it wouldn't be suprising if he does have attachment issues.
The anxious sub-type is:
PsychNet-UK Disorder Information Sheet
I am not a pyschologist or psychiatrist. Nor have I ever met your child. I'm not qualified to make any kind of diagnosis - but this is something I would definately bring up with your boy's mental health-care provider.