What is the fear of abandonment?
The diagnosis means that the person is afraid of being abandoned by a loved one.
This fear can happen to any person. The feeling may be formed because of a past fear, for example, were you rejected by a parent when you were a child or an adult love affair had an unwanted ending?
A person with this diagnosis has difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships. The fear of abandonment is so strong that a person builds a wall, that is, avoids any close contact, deepening of feelings.
You don't just have this feeling about your romantic partner - you may be afraid that a friend, loved one, or family member will leave you.
You are afraid of abandonment if you recognize these symptoms:
- You are overly sensitive to criticism;
- You cannot trust the people around you;
- It is difficult for you to make friends;
- You avoid relationships due to the fear of separation or disappointment;
- Basically, you have unhealthy relationships;
- You quickly connect with people and also quickly leave them;
- You don't spare any effort to please another person;
- If the relationship doesn't work out, you blame yourself;
- You stay in a relationship even though it is unhealthy and the partner is having a toxic effect on your mood or nervous system.
The causative factors are past life events, stress, abandonment, for example:
- A parent or babysitter died in your childhood;
- The parent did not fulfill his duty, did not take care of you;
- Peers refused to be friends with you;
- Loved one was sick for a long time;
- A romantic partner left you suddenly or ended the relationship in a bad manner.
Fear of abandonment can have long-lasting negative effects, including:
- Bad relationship with others;
- Low self-esteem;
- Loss of trust;
- Anger
- Change of character;
- Fear of intimacy, closeness;
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder;
- Depression.
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