Anxiety is a prevalent mental health condition that affects millions of people. One type of anxiety is called anxious-avoidant attachment. It causes people to desire to be close yet fear intimacy, which will push them away. It’s a mix of anxious and avoidant behaviors, causing people to feel uncomfortable expressing intimacy while still wanting to be close.
Recovery Ranch PA welcomes Pennsylvanian residents who are struggling with intimacy issues caused by an anxious-avoidant attachment style. Our team has experience treating all types of anxiety disorders and can create tailored treatment programs that include behavioral and holistic therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to ease anxiety symptoms. To speak with our team about our anxiety treatment program, call 717.969.9126 today.
Understanding Anxious-Avoidant Attachment
Attachment is a natural condition where children will form a close connection with parents or caregivers. It allows them to develop emotional bonds with people and find a way to relate to them. If your needs aren’t met, it can develop into an anxious-avoidant attachment style.
What Is Anxious-Avoidant Attachment?
Anxious-avoidant attachment is a condition where people simultaneously desire closeness yet, at the same time, fear intimacy. It causes them to avoid emotional connection and often push others away despite any interest in being close. The causes of this attachment style are complex and can include childhood trauma, emotional neglect, early separation from parents, inconsistent parenting and emotional responses, or having a caregiver who’s depressed or inexperienced.
What Are the Signs of Anxious-Avoidant Attachment?
Recognizing this attachment style is difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Signs of an anxious-avoidant attachment include:
- Fear of emotions, intimacy, and emotional closeness
- Independence and lack of reliance on others
- Craving intimacy but lack of trust in others
- Disregard for other people’s feelings
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty accepting criticism
If you recognize any of these signs in a friend or loved one, it may mean they could benefit from joining a therapy program. Recovery Ranch PA welcomes anyone with an anxious-avoidant attachment condition and wants help in learning how to develop healthy relationships.
What to Expect When Treating Anxious-Avoidant Attachment
Treating anxious-avoidant attachment is possible through a combination of behavioral therapy and other beneficial treatments. If this is your first time enrolling in a program, here is what to expect when treating an anxious-avoidant attachment style.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the best treatments available for mental health conditions. It works by addressing the underlying issue and finding new ways to cope with symptoms and triggers. Your therapist will use CBT to uncover the root cause behind your attachment style. They’ll help you recognize your triggers and teach you healthy coping skills to manage them.
Holistic Therapy
One of the better ways of treating anxious-avoidant attachment is through yoga, eating healthy meals, and getting plenty of exercise. Holistic therapy can teach you healthier ways to naturally combat your symptoms. Your therapist will teach you mindfulness practices, yoga, meditation, nutrition counseling, and other types of beneficial therapies.
Family Therapy
During family therapy, you’ll work on healing your relationships and developing healthy relationship traits. You’ll learn what the attachment style is and how it can develop from early in your life. Your therapist will work with you and your partner to better understand your relationship and help you improve intimacy, fear of rejection, and other common traits of an anxious-avoidant attachment style.
Join Our Anxiety Treatment Program Today at Recovery Ranch PA
Recovery Ranch PA is a full-service addiction and mental health treatment facility in Wrightsville that welcomes anyone dealing with an anxiety disorder and wants help. When you first arrive for treatment, we’ll run a full health assessment to determine the severity of the condition and what’s causing it. You’ll participate in group and private therapy sessions to build healthy coping skills to better manage your symptoms and triggers.
If you or a loved one is struggling with anxious-avoidant attachment, fill out our online form or call 717.969.9126 today to schedule a consultation and tour.