The attachment we form with primary caregivers in early childhood shapes our worldviews and relationships. This perspective influences our thoughts, behaviors, social interactions, and connections throughout life. Children with an anxious avoidant attachment style often develop anxiety disorders and struggle with intimacy and commitment in adulthood.
If you’re facing anxiety and difficulties in relationships, our anxiety treatment program at Recovery Ranch PA can help. Through this program, you can identify your attachment style, recognize triggers, and develop healthy coping strategies to improve your relationships. Call 717.969.9126 or contact us online to see what treatment option is best for you or your loved one.
How an Anxious Avoidant Attachment Style Develops
The anxious avoidant attachment style is called an avoidant dismissive attachment style in adults. Typically, primary caregivers of adults who have an avoidant dismissive attachment style:
- Became irritated when the child showed signs of emotional distress
- Shamed the child for expressing emotions
- Used punitive phrases like: “Stop crying,” “You’re acting like a baby,” or “You need to toughen up”
- Ignored the child or physically separated themselves while the child was in distress
- Had unrealistic expectations of independence for the child’s age
In response to such caregiver reactions, children learn that showing emotions results in punishment, scorn, or rejection. Therefore, they disconnect from their emotional needs or realize they must find ways to meet them by self-soothing. They continue to do so as adults because they’ve cared for their emotional needs throughout childhood.
Characteristics of Adults with an Avoidant Dismissive Attachment Style
Adults with an avoidant-dismissive attachment style struggle to maintain healthy relationships. Someone with this attachment style might:
- Have difficulty forming deep emotional bonds
- Act cold or dismissive toward friends and family
- Suppress emotions to avoid feeling vulnerable
- Overly value independence and refuse to ask for help from others
- Be secretive about their plans and activities
- Prefer short-term or casual relationships
- Withdraw from relationships that begin to feel too intimate
- Be uncomfortable with displays of emotion
- Minimize the importance of emotions
- Avoid deep emotional conversations
Though they may crave love and desire connection, the fear of rejection or other emotional discomfort prevents them from achieving any significant level of intimacy. When you’re in a relationship with someone with this type of attachment style, it may feel like they keep you at arms-length or are intentionally hurtful. You may constantly question what they want from you and your relationship.
The Relationship Between Attachment Style and Different Types of Anxiety
As we discussed, the attachment styles developed in childhood play a significant role in shaping your emotional regulation, relationships, and worldview. A secure attachment is formed when caregivers consistently meet their child’s needs. People with a secure attachment style feel safe, trusting, and confident in their relationships. They also exhibit better emotional regulation and coping skills, making them more resilient to stress.
These traits make them less likely to develop anxiety disorders. In contrast, people with insecure attachment styles are more prone to anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder.
Adults with an avoidant-dismissive attachment style often suppress emotions, leading to higher levels of internalized stress, which increases their risk of social anxiety and panic disorder.
Connect with Recovery Ranch PA and Start Anxiety Treatment in Pennsylvania
Because attachment styles are formed in early childhood, overcoming insecure attachment styles can be challenging. However, at Recovery Ranch PA, we know that change is possible with commitment, support, and proper treatment. We provide personalized care for each of our clients, tailoring our services to address their specific circumstances, needs, and goals for healing.
There’s a strong link between attachment style, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. Thus, we provide comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment to address co-occurring conditions. For people with insecure attachment, we prioritize family therapy and trauma-informed treatment to address unresolved childhood trauma. In our anxiety treatment program, you can learn how to build healthy, fulfilling relationships. Contact our team online or call 717.969.9126 to enroll in treatment today.
