What is fearful-avoidant attachment.

Fearful-avoidant attachment is a pattern of behavior in relationships that is marked by both high anxiety and high avoidance, wherein a person both craves connection but also fears getting too close to anyone. Also known as disorganized attachment, it’s the rarest of the four attachment styles.

The fearful-avoidant attachment style is considered to be a combination of the anxious attachment style and the avoidant attachment style. People with an anxious attachment style are constantly seeking more intimacy and reassurances in their relationships, often coming off as “needy” partners, whereas people with an avoidant attachment style tend to do the opposite and push others away out of a fear of intimacy


Fearful avoidant attachment
4 Types of attachment styles in relationship

1* Fearful avoidant.

Individuals with fearful avoidant attachment are a combination of the preoccupied and dismissive-avoidant styles of insecure attachment. They believe they are unlovable and also don’t trust other people to support and accept them. Because they think others will eventually reject them, they withdraw from relationships.

2* Secure attachment

People who have a secure attachment style believe they are worthy of love and that other people are trustworthy and responsive. As a result, they are comfortable with intimacy but are also secure enough to be on their own.

3* Dismissive-Avoidant

People with dismissive-avoidant attachment have a sense of their own self-worth but don’t trust other people. This makes them dismissive of the value of intimacy, leading them to avoid close relationships.

4* Preoccupied attachment

Those with preoccupied attachment believe they aren’t worthy of love but generally feel others are supportive and accepting. Consequently, these individuals seek validation and self-acceptance through their relationships with others.

What are the signs of fearful avoidant attachment in adults?

Fearful avoidant attachment can continue into adulthood if not addressed. A lot of the same traits from childhood can carry over into adulthood such as having high anxiety and difficulty trusting others.

1* Unhelpful social behaviours

Someone with this attachment style may be passive or cold during interactions as a way to shield themselves from hurt and rejection.

Otherwise, it is common for people with this attachment style to hold grudges as they do not like to deal with confrontations or difficult conversations.

They can also be people pleasers, meaning that they go along with whatever other people want, or agreeing to things they may not agree with, to make life easier.

2* Emotional dysregulation

People with fearful avoidant attachment may have a lot of difficulty regulating their emotions in their adult relationships.

They may find they have more highly emotional relationships and respond poorly or inappropriately to negative emotions.

3* Avoid getting close to others

People with fearful avoidant attachment want to minimise the eventual disappointment that comes from having relationships with others.

By avoiding close involvement with others
this attachment style enables the person to protect themselves against anticipated rejection.

Someone with this attachment style may prioritize other things such as their career, rather than focusing on people, who they believe will disappoint them eventually.

4* Conflicting feelings about relationships

A fearful avoidant person may not be sure how to feel about their relationships with friends and romantic partners.

They often crave a relationship but are. Click to continue reading https://uwagood.com/2022/10/05/fearful-avoidant-attachment-in-adults-common-behaviors-of-fearful-avoidant-attachment/

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