Do you:

😨 fear getting too close to your partner?

😱 have an extreme fear of rejection?

😰 have a hard time seeking help?

😞 use unhealthy ways to cope?

🙍 feel unworthy of love or not good enough?

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If this sounds like you, you might have grown up with a disorganized attachment style.

💡Read this Byte to determine if you have a disorganized attachment style.

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According to Dr. Lisa Firestone,

A person who grew up with a disorganized attachment often won’t learn healthy ways to self-soothe. They may have trouble socially or struggle in using others to co-regulate their emotions.

Learn some healthy ways to cope and improve your relationships!

Tip #1: Enhance self-awareness

Self-awareness begins with identifying and understanding your triggersas signals to underlying emotions.

✅ You can practice getting in touch with your feelings by:

  • ✒️ grabbing a journal and documenting moments when emotions feel "big" in your body.

  • ❓asking yourself, "What triggering events in my relationships cause anxiety or fear of rejection?"

  • 📖 applying this self-awareness worksheet developed by Dr. Becker-Phelps.

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Some examples of situations that can trigger negative emotions:

▶️ Kris's boyfriend forgets their anniversary. This triggers feelings of anger, anxiety, and sadness: "He doesn't love me, we should break up."

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▶️ Sunil's partner came home from work at a later time than usual. This triggers feelings of fear and panic: "They must be cheating on me and planning to leave!"

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▶️ Julie's relationship is going well. Her partner suggests moving into their place. This triggers feelings of anxiety and tenseness: "They want me to depend on them and they want to control me."

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⚡Knowledge check!

Scenario: Your partner is on a week-long work trip and they haven't texted you since they left. You start to feel anxious.

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Quiz

What thoughts and responses may come up in a disorganized attachment style? Choose all options that apply.

Tip #2 Communicate your needs

When you feel "big" emotions, it might be challenging to communicate your needs and you might have a hard time asking for help.

A sad looking young woman sitting in a café, resting her face on her hands and staring into the camera. Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash

⏪ How do you communicate your feelings more clearly? Let's replay the potential triggering events from above:

👉 When Kris's boyfriend forgets their anniversary...

Flaticon IconINSTEAD OF SAYING: "You don't love me, we should break up."

SAY: "Forgetting the anniversary makes me feel upset because it's important to celebrate our relationship. I know you didn't intend to forget but can we put this event on our calendar so we don't forget next time?"

👉 When Sunil's partner comes home from work at a later time than usual...

Flaticon IconINSTEAD OF SAYING: "You came home late, you must be cheating on me."

SAY: "I feel anxious when you come home late. Next time, can you text me and let me know when you'll be late?"

👉 When Julie's partner suggests moving into their place...

Flaticon IconINSTEAD OF SAYING: "You want me to move into your place, you must want to dominate and control me. You want me to depend on you."

SAY: "While I'm very happy for us, moving in together is a big step that makes me feel anxious and scared. Can I take some more time to process and think about it?"

⚡Knowledge check!

Your partner is on a week-long trip and they haven't texted you. You're feeling anxious and upset.

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Quiz

What are effective ways to communicate your feelings? Choose all options that apply.

Tip #3 Recognize Inner Critic

Your inner voice may tell you:

"I'm not good enough."

"I must be doing something wrong, that's why my partner doesn't love me."

"I'm a loser and I don't deserve this relationship."

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✅ Stand up to your inner critic by:

Take Action

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Building more secure relationships by practicing the right coping skills:

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