Attachment Disorder
Attachment disorder in adults refers to various difficulties associated with reading emotions, showing affection, and trusting others. Attachment disorders often begin in childhood and can affect everything from a person's self-esteem to the satisfaction they feel in relationships. A person with an attachment disorder may have difficulty trusting others or feeling safe and secure in a relationship. As a result, they may have difficulty forming and maintaining friendships and romantic partnerships.
Treatment Options
Research shows that talk therapy is one of the most effective forms of treatment for attachment issues. Therapy will help you process and repair lingering damage from your childhood that may be affecting your ability to have healthy relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective at treating issues related to attachment as it can help a person identify, challenge, and replace automatic behaviors and thought patterns that are maladaptive or harmful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy deals primarily with developing coping skills that allow you to learn to change your thinking, problematic emotions, and behavior.
What is attachment?
The attachment bond is the emotional connection you formed as an infant with your primary caregiver. According to attachment theory, the quality of the bonding you experienced during this first relationship often determines how well you relate to other people and respond to intimacy throughout life. If you experienced confusing, frightening, or inconsistent emotional communication or if your caregiver was unable to consistently comfort you or respond to your needs, you’re more likely to have experienced an unsuccessful or insecure attachment. As an adult you may have difficulty understanding your own emotions and the feelings of others, limiting their ability to build or maintain stable relationships. You may find it difficult to connect to others, shy away from intimacy, or be too clingy, fearful, or anxious in a relationship.