For the sake of privacy, I am withholding the identity of the individual that I interviewed privately. They helped shed light on how relapse relates to attachment style.
“It can be really easy to find that immediate-release that things like drugs or coping behaviors can offer. Especially when you are at that extreme of just feeling like you need so much of something, it can be easier to go back to your own behaviors than to rely on others.”
As someone with an anxious attachment style, I have found that my coping mechanisms come into play when I am most vulnerable and overwhelmed. Although they are not drugs, I can understand how relapse within these behaviors is extremely common, as I resort back to my more negative coping mechanisms when I feel extreme anxiety. My interviewee was able to reflect on this as well:
“It sometimes feels as though the anxiety will swallow you whole if you don’t find a way to relieve it. Relapsing with coping behaviors has always been a way for me to fight this overwhelming feeling and deal with these feelings that don’t include projecting onto others. This makes me feel a lot safer and that I can both understand and rely on my actions and know who to blame if they go wrong.”
Throughout this interview, it became apparent that this issue is a reoccurring issue, as it is for many individuals with this attachment pattern. Luckily, there are ways to help an anxious attachment style through therapy methods like CBT. I have found that this has personally worked so well for some of the things that I struggle with relating to my anxiety and anxious attachment style. Another study done found that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (a practice geared towards challenging and changing negative thought patterns and beliefs) found that this practice greatly benefits those with high anxiety related to attachments.
Hi Emily! I really enjoyed reading your post and seeing this side of addiction and how it involves attachment styles. To be honest, I had never thought about your attachment style having an impact on possible addictions. I think your point that when we’re at our lowest in our lives, having that thing that makes us feel comfortable in the moment is all we need, especially for someone with an anxious attachment style. Based upon the aspects of addiction I have seen throughout my life with family and friends; I can see how an anxious attachment style could make recovering from addiction a really hard road to navigate. I have heard of the many benefits of CBT and I’m sure this could be a very useful tool for anxious avoidant individuals who struggle with addiction.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog! I too have experienced an anxious attachment style, and it's very frustrating when you wish so badly that you were feeling more secure, however you are not. My biggest fear was always the thought that I was going to be broken up with when I was in relationships, but I have worked through this issue in my therapy. I really appreciated the information that you gave, however, showing that many individuals can resort to a variety of different coping mechanisms. Although my coping mechanism may not be drugs or alcohol, that does not mean that this is not the case for others, and this is something that I should be recognizing and thinking about more often. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily!
ReplyDeleteYour post was very intriguing, and I enjoyed learning about how addition and attachment styles play into one another. It was interesting to learn how attachment style can affect addiction. I personally have many family members who struggle with addiction who also have anxious attachment styles and I had never considered how their specific attachment style played into their addiction and coping mechanisms. It is helpful to know that there are ways to help such as therapy. I think in order to overcome addiction it is necessary to address why it is a coping mechanism and how attachment affects addiction. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Emily!
ReplyDeleteYour blog post was very interesting and opened my eyes to a different side of addiction and the way that it can connect to attachment styles for individuals. I personally do not know many people who have struggled with addiction issues, however I could imagine that addiction could have a substantial impact on attachment styles and ways of life. I think an individual who is struggling with this sort of issue would benefit tremendously by seeing a therapist that could help validate a person’s feelings and provide healthy and helpful coping mechanisms. Again, great job! I really enjoyed reading this post.
This is a very interesting post to read, especially in college. I think that the relationship between attachment and addiction is so great in college because everyone gets so overwhelmed with real-life relationships and in turn, can rely on addictive tendencies. I think I am lucky because I have never had to turn to drugs in order to cope with a specific situation. I do know a lot of people that do turn to drugs which creates an even worse downward spiral for them. It is nice to know there are so many sources out there that are able to help and work through these negative coping skills.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this blog. I found it to be very well thought out and organized in a way that made the reading enjoyable as well as very educating. This blog has opened my mind to really dig deeper, even in my personal life, about addictions. I can relate to the interviewee when she talks about her anxious attachment style, I too find myself creating bad habits around stressful situations. I think it is interesting you bring up Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This specific type of therapy sparked my interest because in my personal life I would love to change my negative behaviors/patterns when faced with anxiety and this therapy specifically targets that. Thank you again for sharing this post, if it can open my eyes, I know others who read this will have a new mindset as well.
I had never thought of the ways in which attachment could impact addiction. I also thought addiction was primarily biology paired with observational learning (seeing a parent or peer abuse a substance). However, I am learning from these blogs that attachment can pretty much effect anything. I did not necessarily feel a personal connection with this blog comment despite my anxious attachment style. However, when reading this, I did think of my friend. I believe that he has an anxious attachment style and he also struggles heavily with addiction. On top of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Clinical Depression, addictive tendencies as a way of coping makes perfect sense when you throw an anxious attachment style into the mix.
ReplyDeleteHey there! I think this blog post was very interesting and very relevant, especially during the pandemic. I have struggled with anxiety for most of my life and it is definitely something that has bled into my relationship. My partner and I have been together for over 4 years and I tend to struggle with my mental health a lot more during the winter months. My partner and I have just recently started having in-depth conversations about how my mental health affects myself, him, and our relationship. It used to be something we would ignore and wait for it to pass but I have started trying to take control of my anxiety and my anxious attachment that is more prominent in the winter, and otherwise. The most prominent discussion we had really struck me because he explained that it is something he has just "come to expect and accept". He never would speak up about it when I was sabotaging situations in our relationship and he would just "deal with it" until the spring when I would start to feel better. I didn't even realize this is behavior I would engage in until about a year ago. So we have had many conversations about how I cling onto anxious attachment because it feels good for me to be with him and close to him. I like when we connect on an emotional level but it becomes something I try to force constantly in order to feel good. Thank you for your post and sharing the interview, as well. This articulates what I have been going through really well and I am glad others feel similarly.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see the relationship between anxious attachment styles and addiction. I feel like those who are anxiously attached might be more likely to have an addictive personality as well. I like how you included cognitive behavioral therapy in your post as a tool for people with anxious attachment that might be effective. I can't speak personally about having an anxious attachment style, but I have been able to learn a little about CBT during my time as an HDFS major and do agree that it would likely be very effective for those with anxious attachment who are also have some sort of addiction.
Hi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog post to be very interesting as I never realized the impact that an attachment style can have on addiction. I can use this information in my personal life as one of my loved ones is trying to become sober. She also has an anxious attachment style which could be making this process for her a little more difficult.I find that I can also use this information in my future as a therapist to better understand addictions that some of my clients may be facing. I found it really fascinating how the person you interviewed explained how they would want to resort back to their own habit then rely on others. In a way I find that individuals form attachments with a substance as they do not have another individual or partner to do so with.
Hi Emily!-- Thank you so much for sharing this post and helping to shed light on how addiction and relapse is related to attachment. I was not aware of how high anxiety can be associated with periods of relapse and think this is very important to understand for anyone working with or know someone struggling with addiction. I think it is amazing that CBT can serve as a resource for these individuals and is widely available.
ReplyDeleteI had never thought of connecting attachment style to addiction before and this post really helped me understand both better. I have yet to identify my personal attachment style and I think it would be a really healthy thing to understand because I can often get upset at myself for not acting a certain way in a relationship or not being like my friends etc... I understand the need to have behaviors that you can control, because you really cannot control others and their reactions to you which can be stressful. (obviously it is VERY good that we cannot control others) I do feel like both addiction and attachment can often be ruled by control seeking feelings. I definitely agree that CBT can be so helpful and crucial for stopping those behaviors and negative thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your view and allowing others to understand your attachment style and how it affects you. I realize a lot how that attachment style can relate to addiction and relapse. I find this information so important to know because people struggling with addiction of any form can be very hard on a person and their loves ones. Being able to know their attachment style can help with different treatments and therapies. I wonder if most people relate to the person interviewed when they mentioned how they would rely on their own behaviors even if they were negative rather than rely on others.
ReplyDeleteThis blog was super exciting and informative. I have never thought of how attachment could be related to addiction. Even though addiction does not always mean drugs, my mind goes to, so it was interesting to see how addiction is not always drugs. Reading this blog, I recognized how my anxiety might be a negative addition because I go back to those tendencies when overwhelmed. I am an anxious person, which can negatively affect my relationships with people because I react to certain things. There are many negative coping skills with being anxious, which I can see the negative coping skills in myself. I would have never thought that my anxious style could even correlate to addiction. Overall, great job on your post!
ReplyDeleteThis blog topic is so interesting to learn more about. I have never considered a connection between attachment and addiction. I think I have a more anxious attachment style and I have found coping skills for it. It is interesting to see that negative coping skills can correlate with addiction. I have never considered my attachment style to be similar to an addiction. However, I could understand anxiety in general could correlate with some sort of addiction. I think it would be interesting to learn more about this correlation. Thank you for sharing about your interview. It was interesting to hear their experience.
ReplyDeleteI believe that addiction is a tricky thing. It involves so many complicated aspects of brain chemistry I had yet to consider the way attachment style impacts that. I have family members that sincerely struggle with addiction and in general addictive personalities. I now understand how the attachment style of people can play such an important role. This aligns with members of my family. The one family member I have in mind aligns with the concepts outlined in the research. He has a very broken sense of attachment after years of trauma and problematic family dynamics. I think noticing this would be an important aspect of child rearing.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that addiction came from some sort of coping mechanism. That addiction stemmed from craving a feeling that's missing or wanting a feeling to go away so much that you would like to miss it. My attachment style is also anxious insecure and I have a very addictive personality, everything that I try I eventually fall into an addiction even if its for a short time I feel like I need it, Nicotine, Weed, Alcohol at some point I tried it and couldn't stop for a year or two. Is that considered addiction? and is my attachment style why I have those tendencies? If I had better coping mechanisms would I have such an addictive personality? Thank you for sharing your interview and sharing their experience.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeletePrior to reading your blog post, I had never considered the relationship between addiction. However, I can understand how people with anxious attachment can be more prone to coping with a substance and becoming more addicted. As someone who is also an anxiously attached person, I can see my behaviors rising when I feel stressed or particularly overwhelmed by a certain situation. I found it incredibly interesting to read through CBT, something I haven’t heard of previously, and seeing it to cope through the feelings that accompany an anxious attachment style. I think that personally, having a partner who is securely attached be able to talk me down in moments of stress or frustration has been incredibly helpful in not turning to something such as drugs as a coping method. Overall, I really found this interesting, great post!
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post! I was shocked with how much of my coping mechanisms come out when I start to get super anxious in life and my relationships with others. I never thought of the relation between anxious attachments in relationships and addiction though. It does make more sense now as to why people who are in AA or just coming out of rehab are advised to stay out of romantic relationships. I know that when I become anxious, especially in past relationships I would always resort to the worst-case scenario. This being said, I never realized how destructive it was to myself or my partner and our relationship! This was a very insightful post, thanks for sharing it with us all.
I honestly feel so personally attacked by this blog in particular. I used to have such an anxious attachment style and I had a very unhealthy lifestyle. My unhealthy lifestyle was mainly from the addictive tendencies that this blog was mentioning. I remember that I had so many unhealthy tendencies that I would go back to constantly when I had issues in my past relationships. I would tend to get easily overwhelmed and start overthinking a lot about the smallest details or issues in the relationship. I would then disconnect myself from the outside world and drink and play video games for a long time. I would not communicate with basically anyone and just continue isolating myself for long periods of time.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, thank you for sharing such a reflecting and open experience in your blog post. This post struck close to home because it reminded me of my friend Dani. Dani has an insecure attachment style. She is very anxious. She has been with her girlfriend for four years but they have had many problems because her girlfriend has an avoidant attachment style. Dani can be very needy for attention, which makes her girlfriend mad and pull away at times because she enjoys her space. Despite this, neither Dani or her girlfriend can fully break up with each other, even after a bad argument, because they are “addicted” to one another. I hope they can go to therapy or other of the methods you recommended so they can have a more secure relationship.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing yours and your friend's experience. Addictions are something that I am very passionate about and I've always been interested in how that may influence or impact someone's attachment style. I'm not sure if I have a specific experience that relates to this, but I find the points you make very interesting the points you make about how anxiety can make it difficult to cope and people may resort to addictive behaviors. I can also see how that may lead to feeling addicted to the relationship or the other person in the relationship. This opens my eyes to how destructive addictions can be to a relationship.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your blog post and really enjoyed reading it. I agree that many of us resort to previous coping strategies even if know that they are not beneficial or very healthy. I personally seclude myself and deal with issues on my own so getting into a long-term serious relationship was a hard adjustment for me. My partner chooses to express his feelings and always confide in me when something comes up or is bothering him but have spent my childhood doing the opposite and always handing things on my own. I do not struggle with addiction to substances or alcohol but can relate in relapsing to my negative communication and coping strategies.
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely disheartening. I have an anxious attachment style, and I have absolutely noticed how addiction plays out in my life. I’m not proud of it, but I do feel like I rely heavily on things that I absolutely do not need. I am also a really big fan of patterns, so if I go to school, go to work, do my schoolwork, and then settle down with a glass of wine, that pattern gets to be something I look forward to. I agree with how you rely on coping mechanisms when you’re overwhelmed and/or vulnerable; I do the same thing.
Hi Emily, I really liked the connections that you drew between addictions and anxious attachment styles in relationships. I can totally see how symptoms of addiction can overflow into one’s relationship and impact their attachment style. Your topic of the discussion reminded me of when my brother was involved with a very toxic partner and recently entered sobriety. Whenever my brother and his partner were fighting, he would constantly try and cope without drug use, but eventually, the relationship drove him to relapse. It is crazy how impactful relationships can be to all aspects of one’s life. Great work on this and I really enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteI resonate strongly with this article because I am anxious about attachment style and struggle with addiction. Addiction is fascinating for me to learn about because I am not only trying to grasp my own addiction but understanding others' addictions and why they happen. The description of extreme need is something I have been struggling to grasp because I have been undermining myself by saying this is an unrealistic ‘need’, that it's not a ‘need’ just a really overwhelming, selfish thought. However, after reading this blog post I understand this is not the case. This article was powerful for me. When the individual was sharing insight into their own addiction they explain how maintaining their negative behaviors keeps those around them safe because if they rely on these mechanisms for coping the only person to blame is themselves, and they cannot project onto the people around them.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post related to me on a very personal level. I am in recovery, and I found truth in what you wrote about. I wouldn’t say my attachment style is anxious, however I have noticed some avoidance tendencies within relationships. I used to struggle with anxiety, and I understand the desperation of relieving those anxious thoughts and feelings by engaging in unhealthy coping behaviors, and when anxiety pops up I have noticed my tendency to avoid people in my personal relationships and to become anxious towards ‘coping behaviors’ such as using drugs. I resonated with your words, “… it can be very easy to go from one extreme of avoiding something to needing an endless amount of it” because they are true! In my past relapses, I have very much struggled with the extreme of avoidance and needing a lot of it. I do want to end this comment with saying that I have been clean for many years now, and a large part of my successful recovery was the implementation of CBT. So, there is hope in changing this pattern!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily! I really enjoyed reading your blog and I found this topic really interesting to learn about! This is something that I had never really considered or thought about when it comes to the attachment styles and how that can influence a lot of other areas in our life such as addictions. I found your research and interview really interesting to learn and hear about how it is a way for coping. I think this is something really important to learn about and understand to help those people and realize that they might have these addictions and coping mechanisms because they are in need of something else in there life and they did not really choose to have that addiction. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting learning more about the affect an attachment type has on addictive behaviors. I have never thought about that correlation before, but it very relatable. I was able to relate to the statement that author made about having to go to things I’m used to in order to cope especially when I’m feeling ore anxious than normal. I can also relate to the affects of CBT and think that it has helped me a ton! I have a friend that can become very anxious when thinking about different friendships and relationships. Similar to what the author was stating. She tends to go back towards coping mechanisms that she is used to and exhibits addictive tendencies.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post opened my eyes to how easy it can be to fall into addiction when experiencing feelings of being anger, sadness, anxiousness, and being overwhelmed it can be easy yo turn to something that can quickly calm you down and prevent more anxious to pop up.These substances can also help those feel like they are in a better headspace to understand those emotions after using the substance. I personally use marijuana as a way of calming down and avoiding conflict. In my current relationship and friendships I have found that whenever I start to feel worked up or like I am not going to have a beneficial response to the conversation I take a quick hit to help calm some nerves and come back to the conversation/conflict in a more positive mindset to have better outcomes. I wouldn't say I am addicted but after reading this blog post I have a better understanding of how easily people can fall into these habits and even relate it back to my own usage sometimes.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I really enjoyed your take on how attachment can affect yet another aspect of an individual's life. I would have never thought of the relationship between attachment and addiction, so it was good to read about it. I think that it can be very beneficial for people who do struggling with addiction to learn about the relationship between attachment and addiction, as it can be beneficial for them in life. Knowing that you are more prone to relapsing because of your attachment style can allow others to be on the lookout when things start to go south. I think this was a very good and interesting take on attachment. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMy family has been watching my uncle struggle with his addictions and I can say it doesn’t get any easier to help or understand. My uncles wife has been dealing with cancer for a few years and every time she gets worse he always goes back to drugs and alcohol. They have always been a close couple and my uncle was always the one who needed his wife more. When she first got sick, he had hope but as time went by he started losing it. We never understood why he did what he did, but reading through this post kind of cleared it up for me.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting comparing attachment styles to how people cope with addictions. It does make sense for these two actions to correlate with one another. As someone with an anxious attachment style, I can agree on the viewpoint of resorting back to unhealthy manners when times of high anxiety. These unhealthy habits can be seen as comforting. I have struggled with unhealthy eating habits when I am stressed. Eating unhealthy foods brings easement to anxiety I may have. Someone with a secure attachment may struggle less with these coping habits and find more reliability in healthy manners. These attachment styles can play an important role in how people learn to cope with certain events in their life.
ReplyDeleteThe relation between attachment styles and addiction when I think about it makes perfect sense. As someone who wants to go into addiction counseling I found this post rather interesting and insightful. Interestingly, I have noticed that when I am overwhelmed with emotions and become anxious my addictive tendencies also kick in. For instance, I noticed that my nicotine addiction and unhealthy eating habits kick in the most when my emotions are at a high. I have also noticed some of my peers’ addictive tendencies kick in when they are anxious or overwhelmed. Furthermore, I think this information could be incredibly helpful to know if one struggles with addiction.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post. I found this to be one of the most intriguing posts I have ever read. I think that this is so important to focus on during all points in life but especially college. I can definitely relate with the anxious attachment style the is being described here. I also can agree that I have some habits that arent the best when it comes to a stressful event or situation. I have had a lot of people in my life struggle with addiction, but not once have I ever thought it could be related to attachment. I think that this is a really interesting take that I will be thinking about and analyzing while self reflecting in the future. Thank you for your thoughts.
Hey Emily,
ReplyDeleteI found that the findings that individuals with an anxious attachment style are more likely to relapse into addictive tendencies was extremely scary for someone like me. I myself have an anxious attachment style and often struggle when it comes to substance abuse. I fall to addictive tendencies quiet quickly. Now knowing that it could be as a result of my attachment styles I can learn how to use my attachment style to develop healthy habits and not negative ones.
I really enjoyed this article as I could relate to it in many ways. I am someone who has an anxious attachment style and who used to be addicted to nicotine, more specifically vaping. I vaped for three years before getting into a relationship where I wasn’t allowed to vape, so I quit for the duration of the relationship. The hour after I broke up with him I had already bought a new vape and the cycle of addiction started again. Eventually, with the help and guidance of my current partner, I have once again quit vaping. I am worried that I will relapse if my current partner breaks up with me- but this time I really don’t want that to happen.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post but was also pained to do so. I also struggle with an anxious attachment style and can understand how it can be easy to cope with the highs and lows that come with it, My brother who also struggles with an anxious attachment style also struggles with addiction as well. Reading this blog, I could relate a lot of the information back to him as well and how he relapses when he is struggling more and going through such intense highs and lows. As addicts too who are constantly using, they already are destined to have more highs and lows. So with anxious attachment style on top of that, I can't imagine the struggle it would be to be sober after creating the habit of coping with these intense feelings by using drugs.
ReplyDeleteHey Emily! I thought your post was super interesting and I'm so glad you shared it! It totally makes sense that attachment can affect addiction as I have definitely seen it from people in terms of romantic relationships and how people can become 'addicted' to people because of their attachment and past relationship experiences. I think that it can be a safe thing for people with anxious attachments and it is so easy to go back to habits that feel familiar if you go through something stressful.
ReplyDeleteIn Attachment and Addiction this relates to some people I know. From what I know and understand about people that I have come across that struggle with addiction problems is that it is really hard to overcome. I know that the people that have struggled with addiction also struggle with anxiety as well, which is one of the contributors for why they relapse. I have been told that drugs help them with their anxiety, and helps their body to feel calm and relaxed which is one of the reasons as to why they are on drugs in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great blog post! I have personally never heard of attachment styles being compared to addiction tendencies. I have a family friend right now who is struggling with addiction. If I had to make a guess, I feel she has an anxious attachment style. I have seen the extremes you mentioned in the blog post with her interactions with her dad. She goes from wanting to be his best friend to wanting nothing to do with him. I can see where drugs can provide an immediate release for these individuals, especially if they learned to use drugs as a coping strategy. She spent some time in rehab working with various professionals. I am wondering if any of these professionals addressed attachment style with her.
ReplyDeleteAs somebody with addiction within their family and high anxiety being a pattern from generation to generation, I would say I agree with the points made. Sometimes, I just feel like I can't move or can motivate without having a few beers or a cigarette. I also think that this all started when I graduated high school, moved out on my own and spent less time with my parents. This might show proof that attachment impacts it and can make addiction better or worse. Even without all of the stress, sometimes a drug or nicotine product is a main goal before I can really orient myself efficiently.
ReplyDeleteAs I was growing up, I watched my parents struggle with addiction after addiction. I was always curious about what exactly made them so attracted to the feeling these negative coping mechanisms gave them. I would sit back and try to wrap my head around what got them to that point, and built plans in my head so I did not go down the same path. After reading this article, I think the picture is a little more clear. Individuals that are addicted may feel more comfortable going to a substance for release than a person because they have been taught their whole lives that people do not care about them. Similarly, taking substances is in their control, and they don't have to blame anyone else if something goes wrong. They are solely responsible. As someone who has an anxious and avoidant attachment style, this blog post was really helpful on shedding light on a part of my life I do not discuss much. I think I will try to be more attentive to my healthy coping mechanisms, and show some more grace to the individuals in my life engaging in addiction.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post was enjoyable because of the way it gave insight to an attachment style that is not my own. I think hearing about other people, their experiences, and the way that they cope with different things, such as anxiety, is beneficial to becoming a better version of myself. I agree that there are often unhealthy coping mechanisms that can easily be perceived as and turn into addictions. I also agree that therapy is a great way to help change daily habits and just learn more about yourself as an individual. However, I do not think that therapy is the perfect solution for everyone; I think that everyone needs different solutions for different things in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI can not personally relate to my own attachment style being linked to addiction tendencies, but I really enjoyed reading this post and learning more about it. Something that I have experienced with family members however, is watching those back to back behaviors that were mentioned. For example, feeling overwhelmed which then results in that person using things as coping mechanisms. Then these mechanisms can become habits and an escape which does not seem like a healthy thing either. I feel like I might have a slightly anxious attachment style so I can agree with the interviewee when they mentioned that coping mechanisms feel better than projecting onto people.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog about attachment styles. I have learned about this in class, but it was interesting to read this from a different perspective. I really enjoyed that you interviewed someone who has an anxious attachment style and struggles with drug use. I found it interesting to read about how individuals with an anxious attachment style struggle with addictive tendencies. I found this really interesting because I have anxiety, however I do not have an anxious attachment style. Thankfully I do not have to turn to negative coping tendencies, but I liked that you included the help from therapy. From personal experience, I have seen therapy work so well in other’s lives, including my own. Great post, I enjoyed learning about the relationship between addiction and attachment styles.
Hi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI found your post on attachment and addiction to be extremely intriguing. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with having an anxious attachment style. As someone who does not have an anxious attachment style, I found it to be enlightening to get a glimpse of a different perspective of life. I had not previously thought about how attachment styles could affect relapsing rather how attachment styles affect your likelihood to become addicted to substances. I have a friend who also has an anxious attachment style and she has shared similar stories about how when she is overwhelmed she will try just about anything to get out of that headspace even if it means doing things that are not the best for her health.
Hi Emily. Reading your blog was so interesting because I hadn't thought much about how your attachment styles could have an affect other than just how you handle situations in the moment. Understanding that these attachment styles can be reoccurring in many ways will help an individual to identify these patterns and learn how to cope with it. I think that knowing what resources are available (like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is so important because it will help you to understand the ways in which you can work through these reoccurrences and prevent them prohibiting you in the future.
ReplyDeleteEmily, this is a post that “fell onto my lap” during one of those instances when I am using my not so healthy coping mechanism to deal from the stress of school, home, being a mom, a wife, all the things… Without a doubt, everything you said resonated with me. I am a woman who recognizes my anxious attachment style, and how more often than not when dealing with a situation that is traumatic or stressful, may trigger my eating disorder as it makes me feel in control of myself and the situation. Sometimes, my relapses are brief, and I pull myself out of the abysm; other times, I rely on food so much to feel good about myself that it becomes a concerning for my own health and well-being. I could describe it as having those same anxious and concerning feelings I have towards people but geared towards food. It truly is a constant battle.
ReplyDeleteHi! Within this certain post I felt seen and understood when things like relapsing into poor behaviors occur. I think this is super interesting on how attachment styles play a role with addiction, especially when having an anxious attachment. I honestly can relate to this the same as your friend. I don’t relapse with drugs or have an addiction to them. Yet I do have some very poor coping mechanisms. I tend to isolate myself when too stressed or anxious and will cut people who are important to me off. This happens very easily for me, and I also tend to lean towards an anxious attachment style. I really enjoyed this post and your writing.
ReplyDeleteWow. I guess I had never considered how attachment styles can impact addiction in the same way it would with relationships. Reverting back to old coping strategies always feels like a safer bet to relieve negative feelings, even though they might not be the healthiest choice. I feel like having this information is most definitely relevant to consider for those with anxious attachments. However, I do wonder how those with avoidant attachment styles are impacted by their addictions. I’m sure there is research that explains that they may use their addiction to cope in similar ways, by avoiding the issue at hand and going back to something that is more familiar.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post is very thought provoking and has made me consider the impact of addiction on relationships. In the past, I have seen many relationships get torn apart from the negative effects of addiction mixed with an anxious attachment style. I haven't ever considered the correlation of an individual seeking a substance in order to find immediate gratification when they were lacking that elsewhere in their life. I am curious about the association between addiction and attachment style. Does addiction promote an anxious attachment style or does your attachment style predict addictive tendencies? Overall, this was a very insightful blog post.
ReplyDeleteOverall, this blog is fascinating and has opened my eyes on anxious attachments being more prone to what addiction can be. Our coping strategies can potentially be impacted through certain impulses so bringing up relapsing or reoccurring tendencies makes sense to those who are anxious. My friend, Katie, has recently started cognitive behavioral therapy and intertwining her potential attachment style with the sessions she’s finished is interesting to correlate together. Ever since starting, I understand there is a difference between her emotions/behavior before and current day attitudes. I do see repetitive behavior within your example and my example that demonstrates factors of what addiction can do to an individual.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, I really enjoyed your post on Attachment and Addiction. I was drawn to the comment made regarding how it can be really easy to find immediate -release coping behaviors such as drugs when dealing with stress. I connect to this thought as I have been coping with stressors and anxiety with marajuana. I want to stop and find healthy coping skills. I also have an anxious attachment style and can see how I utilize my coping skills when I am vulnerable and overwhelmed. It is important to learn about negative and positive coping skills because everyone is different which means different things work for different people. I am glad I read your post and I am eager to learn more about the things I can do for myself in order to avoid negative coping skills when dealing with stress and anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI found this blog post very interesting based on another comment I wrote about attachment styles. This post also brought up how anxious attachment styles are more likely to relapse. This makes sense to me about it being brought into relationships. As seen in the other posts people with anxious attachment styles are more likely to cheat due to overthinking the relationship. After the fact of cheating, many of them may come running back and realize they made a mistake which is the same as relapsing. This was very interesting to me that attachment styles can relate to so many things like addiction and relationships. Which makes me wonder what else does it affect?
ReplyDeleteI can totally see the connection between attachment and addictive tendencies in my life and the people I love. Someone who I am very close to was adopted and has always had a strong fear of abandonment and not being loved. This person has turned to alcohol specifically to cope with lifes difficulties. It is interesting to see how attachment style can have a factor is unhealthy coping styles and I really had not thought of that before. I also wonder how other attachment styles influence addiction. Addiction seems like a terrible cycle to be in and this opened my eyes to how substances or other unhealthy coping methods almost fill a void in someone's life.
ReplyDeleteUnhealthy coping mechanisms can definitely feel like an addiction. Using them to feel instant relief in the moments you need it the most. I can definitely relate to the person you interviewed although I do not use drugs. I am an anxious eater. I will binge eat in order to make myself feel better with whatever the stressful situation might be. I definitely have an anxious attachment style and get overwhelmed easily and feel extremely vulnerable in the most stressful times in my life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sounds like it would be extremely beneficial for someone with my type of attachment style and perhaps be able to learn better and healthier attachment styles.
ReplyDeleteI found this blog to be really interesting and point out important factors. Attachment is like relapsing as humans we build connections and form relationships with people sometimes these consume us entirely. The way in which we cope with them is to show in certain behaviors that we have. I know that I deal with avoidant attachment issues in building connections with potential lovers. The reason behind these issues is because the only person I was ever in a relationship passed away really tragically, and to form a relationship like that again is terrifying to so I tend to myself distancing before building great connections. I relapse into addictive tendencies in a matter of fear of potential loss.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that attachment styles can greatly impact aspects of our lives as well as the addictive tendencies of others. I am glad to learn through the interview about how people with attachment style realize how their coping mechanism come into play when they are overwhelmed and vulnerable. There is no doubt that this particular issue happens to be a recurring one considering the fact that it takes place in people with this attachment pattern. It is also noteworthy that it is interesting that there are ways to assist an anxious attachment style through therapy methods such as CBT.
ReplyDeleteThis blog caught my eye because of the title, Attachment and Addiction. As I read on the blog it made perfect sense to me on why these two relate to one another. As someone who has seen an anxious attachment style first hand from a parent, and also watched that same parent have an addiction, it really does make sense. Without given the proper resources to develop healthy coping skills, someone with an anxious attachment can easily fall into addiction with drug and/or alcohol. It also makes it more likely for that person to relapse because they do not know how to cope with their stress. I thought this blog was very well written and she used her interviewees quotes well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such an insightful exploration of the connection between attachment styles and addiction. It’s truly eye-opening to see how anxious attachment can lead to patterns of behavior that affect not only relationships but also coping mechanisms and addictive tendencies.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who loves someone struggling with addiction, I’ve found that understanding attachment styles has made me much more compassionate towards their challenges. It’s clear that the back-and-forth behaviors you describe can create a cycle that’s difficult to break. This education has helped me approach their struggles with empathy rather than frustration.
I appreciate how you highlighted the role of therapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in addressing these issues. It’s encouraging to know that there are effective methods available to help individuals navigate their anxious attachment styles and develop healthier coping strategies. Thank you for opening up this conversation—sharing these insights is invaluable for anyone grappling with similar experiences.
I enjoyed reading this blog post as I found it to be an interesting correlation between attachment style and addiction. CBT is a wonderful tool to utilize in every aspect of ones anxious attachment, not just in relationships. I for one, have dealt with anxiety since I was 13 ( I am now in my 30s) and thee negative self-talk, the doubt, the worry, all rear their ugly heads in every aspect of my life. The more tools I have to cope with the anxiety, the less it shows up in my dating life. However, I understand how difficult it is to use thee tools vs just retreating into the old patterns (addictions).
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Hi Emily! This post really spoke to me as a child of addicts. My parent suffers from a severe anxiety order as well as depression, so it made a lot of sense to me that an anxious attachment style would be correlated with addiction. Similarly to the interviewee my parent uses substances to cope and says it relieves them from the stresses of life or take the edge off so to speak. Thank you for the advice about cognitive behavioral therapy. However, I do think this advice is more useful for affluent families that have insurance for things like therapy.
ReplyDelete• This was an interesting post to read, thank you for sharing! It is very interesting how your attachment style can impact things such as likelihood to relapse into addictive tendencies. I was a tad skeptical until you mentioned the anxious attachment style and going from avoidance to fully indulging yourself. I have had a few friends that have an anxious-attachment styles and they have struggled with addictive tendencies and specifically coping mechanisms that are not the best. With this new information I just learned I am able to now better support my friends if they mention that they are struggling and I can help them before they return to those coping strategies.
ReplyDeleteThe connection you made between the emotional extremes experienced by individuals with anxious attachment and the propensity for relapse is striking. It sheds light a relatable light on how coping mechanisms often become a double-edged sword—providing temporary relief, but perpetuating the cycle of dependency. As someone with anxious attachment tendencies, the idea that relapse can feel like taking control when everything else feels overwhelming leaves me hope. It’s relatable and underscores the importance of healthy interventions like CBT. Your personal reflection also ties the topic together well, showing that progress is achievable with the right tools and mindset.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an insightful post! I really appreciate how you connect attachment styles, especially anxious attachment, to addictive behaviors and relapse. The way you explain the back-and-forth nature of anxious attachment and how it mirrors the cycle of addiction makes so much sense. It highlights how the immediate relief that addictive behaviors can provide is often a response to overwhelming anxiety, which is so difficult to manage without healthier coping strategies. I also love that you bring up Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a helpful tool for individuals with anxious attachment. It’s a great reminder that there are ways to break these cycles, and therapy can provide the structure needed to reframe negative thought patterns. I can relate to the idea that when feeling vulnerable, it can be easier to rely on familiar (but unhealthy) coping mechanisms. It’s comforting to know that with support, these tendencies can be addressed and managed more effectively. Thanks for sharing your personal insight and the interview it's a valuable perspective on the relationship between attachment and addiction.
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