Your Attachment Style is the way in which you relate to others in close relationships. It is based on the way you were treated by your caregivers as a child, and can be a powerful predictor of the way you will relate to others as an adult.

There are four distinct attachment styles that people tend to adopt in their relationships: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized (a combination of anxious & avoidant). Each style represents a different way of interacting with others and reflects different levels of comfort with intimacy.

- Secure attachment is characterized by a willingness to be close to others and an ability to form supportive and lasting relationships. People with a secure attachment style tend to be trusting, responsive, and emotionally engaged with their partners.

- Anxious attachment is characterized by a strong desire to be close to others, but also a feeling of insecurity and vulnerability. People with an anxious attachment style may be preoccupied with their relationships and fear abandonment or rejection. They may also become overly clingy or dependent on their partners.

- Avoidant attachment is characterized by a tendency to distance oneself from others and a fear of intimacy. People with an avoidant attachment style often have trouble forming close, supportive relationships. They may be uncomfortable with intimacy and prefer to avoid or withdraw from close relationships.

- Disorganized attachment is characterized by a confused or ambivalent attitude towards others. People with this attachment style may have difficulty forming close relationships and may exhibit unpredictable or erratic behaviour.

In psychology, attachment styles are categorized as either secure or insecure, which describe the different ways people relate to others.

People with a secure attachment style tend to be more trusting, have positive relationships, and feel more secure in themselves.

People with an insecure attachment style tend to be more anxious, have negative relationships, and feel less secure in themselves.

While it is important to be aware of your own attachment style, it is even more beneficial to understand how your attachment style interacts with others. After all, we are constantly interacting with others and our attachment style can have a profound effect on those relationships.

Many people are not aware of their attachment style or how it can impact their relationships. However, gaining this self-awareness can be extremely helpful in managing relationships more effectively. It can also help you to better understand the dynamics of your relationships and why certain things may be triggering for you.

Overall, self-awareness is key to managing any type of relationship effectively. Knowing your attachment style can be incredibly beneficial, as it can help you to better understand your own needs and triggers in relationships.

It can also help you to identify the sort of partner that is likely to be a good match for you, and to develop more satisfying and healthy relationships.

Book recommendation:

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind - and Keep - Love

In peace, 

Amy Rode at The Centre for Healing