Anxious Attachment
- “I panic when they don't text back”
- “I need constant reassurance that they still care”
- “the word for fearing abandonment in relationships”
- “why do I get so anxious when someone pulls away”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Anxious attachment | Avoidant attachment |
|---|---|---|
| Under stress | Seeks closeness | Withdraws |
| Core fear | Being abandoned | Being engulfed |
| Strategy | Pursue, reassure | Distance, self-soothe |
| Shared root | Insecurity | Insecurity |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Anxious Attachment rather than Avoidant attachment are usually searching for phrases like “I panic when they don't text back”, “I need constant reassurance that they still care”, “the word for fearing abandonment in relationships”.
Avoidant Attachment
- “I pull away the moment someone gets close”
- “I feel smothered when a relationship gets serious”
- “the word for needing distance and hating to depend on anyone”
- “why do I shut down emotionally when someone needs me”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortAnxious attachment. 1950s–60s — John Bowlby founds attachment theory, framing the child–caregiver bond in evolutionary terms.
- 1950s–60s
Anxious Attachment. John Bowlby founds attachment theory, framing the child–caregiver bond in evolutionary terms.
- 1950s–60s
Avoidant Attachment. John Bowlby establishes attachment theory as the framework for the child–caregiver bond.
04 · Read either one