What are avoidant attachment styles?

When someone has an avoidant attachment style, they tend to keep their distance when things get tough, just like a shy kid who hides behind a big teddy bear when they’re scared.

Imagine you're playing with your friend, and suddenly the ball rolls into the street. You run after it, but your friend stays back, watching from afar. That’s kind of how people with an avoidant attachment style act when something goes wrong, they’d rather be alone than face the problem together.

Like a Backpack Full of Snacks

Think of your favorite backpack that you take to school every day. It's full of snacks and toys, and it always feels safe. People with avoidant attachment styles are like that backpack, they carry their own comfort inside them. When things get hard or someone gets upset, they just pull out their snacks and go somewhere quiet instead of talking about what’s wrong.

They Don’t Want to Be Held

If you’ve ever seen a kid who doesn’t want to be held when they're scared, maybe they prefer sitting on the floor with their favorite blanket, that's similar to avoidant attachment. It’s not that they don't care; it’s just that they find comfort in being alone or keeping things simple.

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Examples

  1. A child who avoids their parent when they're upset
  2. An adult who walks away during an argument
  3. Someone who prefers being alone over spending time with friends

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