Caring for the human body, mind, and soul can be challenging. Parents do their best, along with other caregivers, but sometimes they fall short. With a strong emotional connection and love, called secure attachment, children grow to feel confident and resilient. They are securely attached within themselves and share this love and kindness with others. When they feel emotionally disconnected, or insecure attachment, they can struggle with the regulation of their nerves and bodies, resulting in emotional and physical problems as adults. Addiction can sometimes come from this as well. Learn more about why insecure attachment is so important to understand.
Wired for Attachment
The survival of animal species in the wild depends on attachment. Monkeys literally cling to their mothers for the first part of their lives. Kangaroos grow in a pouch on their mother’s stomachs for a while, nursing and staying safe. Not every animal has connected in this way right away. When a strong connection exists, animals (including children) grow into self-sufficient adults who regulate their emotions and learn how to cope with real-life stressors. Animals cannot learn to eat unless they feel secure and understand what needs to be done. Children are also more emotionally resilient and able to handle adverse circumstances along the journey to adulthood. This can manifest into addictive behaviors, mental health issues, and more for children who do not have secure attachments as children.
Insecure Attachment
Insecure attachment, a concept rooted in attachment theory, can significantly impact emotional well-being and relationships. Individuals with an insecure attachment style often struggle with trust, intimacy, and self-esteem, which may stem from early experiences of inconsistent or insufficient caregiving. This can lead to patterns of attachment disorder, affecting the ability to form healthy connections. Unlike secure attachment, where individuals feel confident and supported in their relationships, insecure attachment styles may contribute to challenges like anxiety, fear of abandonment, and even substance abuse as a way to cope with emotional distress. Working with a mental health professional can help individuals identify and address these patterns, fostering growth toward a secure attachment style and healthier relationships.
Insecure Attachment Challenges
A baby looks to its caregiver for comfort, feeding, clothing, and proper care. What teaches self-regulation of these things later in life is being well cared for early on. Addiction to drugs, food, OCD, anxiety, depression, and many other issues can come from attachment disorder in women. Attachment trauma is almost always a root cause of addiction. When people with addiction deal with insecure attachment, they have to first recognize this happened in their history. If it happened, then they have to deal with how to navigate that as an adult (or teen). The challenges are typically finding ways to resolve the triggers for self-soothing that turned them to alcohol and drugs, rather than connection. People who cannot attach to caregivers automatically seek out other objects or things to attach to, which help soothe the issue for the time being but don’t really resolve the crisis.
Addiction Issues and Attachment
Exposure to substances takes time to develop tolerance, then lead to addiction. Not every person will become addicted who uses substances but they can develop with repeated use. Addiction is a form of attachment to a substance. Insecure attachment is associated with behaviors that are risky for people. Those who did not develop secure attachment can go on to develop an addiction. Many people who have not experienced attachment may lead healthy lives with the right focus on healing the root causes of addiction. There are no easy answers but with time a person can find opportunities to grow and heal.
Creating Better Connections
Although it may feel difficult at first, the hardest part is recognizing a problem exists. The issue with insecure attachment is it changes the way the brain and body respond to its environment. This means the person has to relearn ways to cope with their environment in a way that is healthier than they learned growing up. To create more connections and establish grounding in the body, they have to rewire themselves for secure attachment. Neuroplasticity is helpful when thinking about ways to change the brain so it can focus on healing from the past. This can help:
Develop more secure attachments now with loved ones and friends
Resolve past trauma from the family of origin or in the journey of life
Create other options and pathways to self-soothing behavior
Connect with others who are struggling and share hopes in the midst of challenges
Attachment can carry a negative connotation but is actually a good thing. It is very healing to help drive the self to find out why it is difficult to attach to people in a healthy way and work on building tools that support long-lasting growth and healing in recovery.
Treatment for Attachment Disorders in Women
Other people in treatment for addiction struggle with insecure attachments, too. Learning a person is not alone in the journey helps. It is also helpful to give up denial of the issues a person faces so they can find healing. The lens of attachment theory can look at the root causes and start to empower people to learn how to rewire the brain for connection. It takes time. Nothing happens overnight. To cultivate connection means to work on attachment to positive, healthy people and things in life. Attachment disorders are difficult for people to overcome but with therapy and hard work, they can work through it to find hope and healing. Addiction can create isolation and suffering for someone with substance use disorder and insecure attachment. They may struggle to connect with others. Treatment using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people transition to positive behaviors that are healthier. CBT helps people who did not have attachments early on or very few and provides skills to help them develop meaningful relationships, feel more confident, and develop supportive connections to their work and personal lives.
Casa Capri is designed for women who are struggling with addiction to find hope and a purpose. What we do here is to give you a place to find sisterhood and healing. We provide tools and resources to support your growth and journey in recovery. Holistic practices, traditional therapy, and more are part of our program. If you are ready to heal from addiction, call us: 844-593-8020
FAQs About Attachment Disorders
What is reactive attachment disorder, and how does it develop?
Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is a condition that occurs when a child does not form a healthy emotional bond with caregivers, often due to neglect or inconsistent caregiving. This disorder can lead to difficulties in forming meaningful interpersonal relationships and may persist into adulthood if untreated.
What is the fearful avoidant attachment style?
The fearful avoidant attachment style, a type of disorganized attachment, is characterized by a mix of craving closeness and fearing intimacy. Individuals with this style may struggle in romantic relationships, oscillating between seeking connection and pushing others away due to fear of rejection or abandonment.
How does substance use relate to attachment styles?
Research indicates that insecure attachment styles, such as anxious or disorganized attachment, can increase vulnerability to substance use disorders. People with these attachment patterns may turn to substances as a way to manage emotional distress or cope with relationship challenges.
What is disinhibited social engagement disorder, and how does it differ from reactive attachment disorder?
Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) occurs when children show overly familiar behavior with strangers, often due to early neglect or trauma. Unlike reactive attachment disorder, which involves withdrawal and difficulty trusting others, DSED is marked by a lack of appropriate social boundaries.
Can attachment patterns change in adulthood?
Yes, adult attachment patterns can evolve over time, particularly with the help of therapy or healthy interpersonal relationships. Working with a mental health professional can provide insight into how attachment patterns, like anxious or disorganized attachment, impact emotional well-being and romantic relationships.
What is the anxious attachment style, and how does it affect relationships?
Anxious attachment is characterized by a deep fear of abandonment and a strong desire for closeness. People with this style may experience heightened anxiety in romantic relationships, constantly seeking reassurance and feeling insecure about their partner’s feelings.
How does disorganized attachment manifest in relationships?
A disorganized attachment style is often a result of trauma or inconsistent caregiving and is marked by conflicting behaviors—seeking closeness while also fearing it. In romantic relationships, this attachment style can lead to difficulties in trust, emotional regulation, and maintaining stability.
What role does empirical evidence play in understanding attachment styles?
Empirical evidence supports the theory that early attachment experiences shape adult attachment styles and influence interpersonal relationships. Studies show that therapy and interventions can help individuals move toward more secure attachment patterns, improving both mental health and relationship outcomes.
How can viewing relationships from an attachment perspective help?
An attachment perspective allows individuals to understand how early experiences shape their relational behaviors. This approach can be beneficial for addressing challenges in romantic relationships, improving communication, and fostering emotional intimacy.
Can a mental health professional help with attachment-related issues?
Yes, mental health professionals are trained to identify and address attachment issues, such as reactive attachment disorder, disorganized attachment, or anxious attachment styles. Therapy can provide tools to build healthier interpersonal relationships and achieve emotional well-being.