What are anxious attachment styles?

An anxious attachment style is when someone really wants to stay close to others, but also feels worried they might leave.

Imagine you're playing with your best friend at the park. You have a ball, and you're having so much fun! But then your friend starts walking away, and suddenly you feel super nervous, like maybe they don’t want to play anymore. That’s how someone with an anxious attachment style feels when they think someone might not be there for them.

It's kind of like walking on a tightrope. You're trying your best to stay balanced, but you’re also scared that if you make one wrong step, everything will fall apart. That’s how someone with an anxious attachment style feels in relationships, they want things to go well, but they’re always checking if the other person is still there.

When your friend comes back and says, "Let's play again!" you feel happy and relieved, like getting a hug after falling off the tightrope. But then you start worrying all over again: Will they leave next time?

That’s the anxious attachment style, always wanting to stay close, but also always feeling worried about being left behind.