If you’re searching online for “how to deal with anxious attachment,” you know someone who has this attachment style and is struggling in their relationships with others. Anxious attachment occurs when your style of emotional bonding is disrupted by inconsistent or unpredictable parenting or childcare. It’s typically developed in early childhood and can cause a fear of abandonment and constant seeking out validation from parents and other relationships.
Recovery Ranch PA welcomes anyone who’s struggling with an anxious attachment style and wants help in managing their symptoms and relationships. Our anxiety treatment program typically features cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and other beneficial therapies, where we teach you several coping skills to manage your symptoms. You’ll participate in group and private therapy sessions to learn how to recognize triggering situations or people and develop healthy coping methods.
What Is Anxious Attachment?
An anxious attachment is a type of emotional bonding often rooted in early childhood. It results from inconsistent or unpredictable caregiving and can lead to a deep fear of abandonment, a strong need for closeness, and a heightened sensitivity to real or perceived rejection by a partner.
It can also produce the need for reassurance and the frequent seeking of validation, affection, and confirmation of love. Children who grow up with this attachment style will have difficulty with independence and feel uncomfortable being alone. They’ll need constant attention—otherwise, they may become distressed or anxious when their partner isn’t there.
It can also impact adult relationships if the attachment style is never addressed and the person doesn’t learn healthy relationship traits. The person can become clingy and require constant attention and reassurance. They can become very jealous of their partner’s other relationships and may become insecure. They’ll have difficulty trusting anyone and constantly question their feelings for their partner.
How do you help a loved one with anxiety? There are many things that you can do. Talk to them about their attachment style and learn how you can help avoid any of the common triggers associated with the disorder. Try to convince them to enroll in an anxiety treatment program where they can talk with a therapist and learn new ways to cope with their symptoms.
How to Deal with Anxious Attachment
Dealing with an anxious attachment style is a complex process. There are many ways to learn how to reassure them and communicate your needs in a manner that they understand and can accept. Here are several tips on how to deal with anxious attachment.
Constant Reassurance
A person with this style of attachment will need consistent reassurance, or they’ll struggle with a fear of abandonment. Little things, like saying, “I care about you” and “I’m here for you,” can go a long way to helping them feel safe.
Open and Honest Communication
You must perfect your communication skills and clearly express your feelings, expectations, and intentions. For instance, if they interrupt your personal time, you can explain that this is your time and it’s something you need to be happy.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Setting boundaries is essential for someone with an anxious attachment style. They must understand that boundaries don’t mean rejection but are necessary to maintain a healthy relationship. You can say something like, “I’m happy to reassure you when needed, but I can’t continuously prove my feelings for you.”
Reassurance is healthy, but too much of it can be detrimental. It can create a cycle of dependency that will be difficult to break.
Encourage Self-Sufficiency
Self-confidence and emotional resilience are very important for people with this style of attachment. To build their self-confidence, you should encourage them to engage with others and be more social. Suggest a favorite group activity and have them invite friends along to participate.
Avoid Triggers
Be careful of your actions and behaviors around someone with an anxious attachment. They can be triggered by unpredictable behavior, divisiveness, or sudden withdrawal. If triggered, react calmly and reassure them rather than avoid the situation.
Enroll Them in Therapy
An anxiety treatment program is one of the best ways to learn how to deal with anxious attachment. It can help focus on the original cause of the condition and develop new behaviors and coping skills to manage symptoms and triggers.
Please encourage them to read up on anxious attachment style to learn more about the condition and how to treat it. This will help them build self-awareness and inform them about the benefits of attending therapy.
Enroll in Our Anxiety Treatment Program Today at The Ranch PA
The Ranch PA supports those who struggle to form close relationships due to early childhood neglect or inconsistent care. Our team will evaluate your current condition and base your treatment program on your existing symptoms. This tailored approach uses cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and other therapies to teach you how to be more self-reliant and manage your symptoms and triggers more effectively.
If you’re ready to learn how to help a loved one with anxiety, fill out our online form or call 717.969.9126 today to schedule a tour of our discreet center in Wrightsville.