The irony here is funny. They fear that being vulnerable is going to be the death of the relationship when IN FACT it's their inability to be vulnerable and consequential disappearing act that directly causes the death of the relationship. What self-respecting person would tolerate this again and again? I am so ashamed that I have put up with it more than once. I just can't do it anymore.
He broke up with me twice, and this time feels so much more permanent, and I'm absolutely devastated. We were going through some issues but it was mostly due to external stressors, particularly our schedules not lining up well, and he had two jobs he was trying to juggle. I know we could have gotten through it and gotten back on track; he even quit his part-time job just a few weeks before we broke up, saying that we could have more time together, but then he left. I'm just so fucking hurt. And what makes it worse is that I still really love him, but I honestly don't trust him -- All he had to do was stay and try to work through things with me, but he couldn't. Just like the first time. Him leaving is what really broke the trust; it's one thing to have issues and bring them up and see if we can work on them, it's another to just give up and walk away. I'm sorry you're dealing with this too or have dealt with it. I don't understand it anymore than you. I hate that I can't walk away... I don't know how to go from one extreme to the other - in love and talking everyday to nothing. 😞💔
@@jd6331 Im so sorry you are going through this. I can relate…. my bf shuts down but is an emotional void. He was not like that in the beginning.He was open and a best friend in the beginning… then after 4 months, he shut down. This relationship is insanely lonely. If I don’t break up with him, he will just stay and reap the benefits… and continue to drift away. I’ve learned the people break up w/ those they love the most. So Im sorry you are hurting… but we both need to separate and find emotionally healthy people. 🙏🏻
My wife of 12 years is doing the same to me. She's shutting me out and keeping my daughter from me. I'm so close to getting over it. I want to try to work on it for my daughter but I don't know if I can go through this pain for much longer.
The secure people just do not love anybody. Love is just a business, a transaction for them. A secure human better writes a paper deal with their future partner.
Your fighting a losing battle with an avoidant. They will always look for reasons for why it wont work. Full on sabotage of the relationship. They'll only stick around if you have zero expectations of them.
The Abused Usually Become The Abuser Now Don’t They. Too Bad People Here Have Low Compassion For Avoidants. We Have Been Hurt Deeply & Emotionally. Until We Realize That We Need Help, We Don’t See What We’re Doing To Others.
Cool video, My relationship of 6 years ended a month ago. The love of my life decided to leave me, I really love him so much I can’t stop thinking about him, I’ve tried my very best to get him back in my life, but to no avail, I’m frustrated, I don’t see my life with anyone else. I’ve done my best to get rid of the thoughts of him, but I can’t, I don’t know why I’m saying this here, I really miss him and just can’t stop thinking about him
its difficult to let go of someone you love, i was in a similar situation, my relationship of 12 years ended, but i couldnt just let him go i did all i could to get him back, i had to seek the help of a spiritual counselor who helped me bring him back
I'm with a man who is like this. It's incredibly damaging and I'm having such a difficult time leaving because of those breadcrumbs. The highs are high, the lows are low. I'm on eggshells because of him deactivating and I'm neglecting my needs so they don't shut me out. Eww, right? It's beyond twisted yet I'm here meeting all of his needs, fighting for him, and boosting his ego.
The sad thing is, he will probably dump you eventually. So you not leaving him because of those breadcrumbs could go on for a long time until finally he ends it, and you're left feeling horrible. Have you suggested to him that he talks to a councilor? With help a person can get out of that avoidant attachment style, but it takes time.
Choose your poison But staying will only delay the inevitable And you’ll have lost life time And you’ll resent Don’t live like that Take the pain now Save your future fir realistic dreams The push pull and the pain I know it well I left her It’s a slow recovery But I did say recovery Recover your self Honor your SELF And live will find you
I learnt it was because I had a non existent self esteem stemming from how I was treated as a child and what it made me wrongly believe about my worth. once I started to change my mind about my self esteem, I wasn't at all hooked on crumbs anymore and I felt sad for the little girl who had once had to accept crumbs from people who should have loved her (but couldn't in healthy ways ) and took an interest in the psychology of that. Bread crumbing and going back is sad, yes but it is a deeper, more sadder part of a thinking pattern that believes you aren't of value or worth more. heal this to heal the pattern
One finds when one leaves and heals, that the relationship was ONE reflection of abandoning oneself. The relationship reflects all the people-pleasing/fawning we have done from childhood. The breadcrumbs are morsels of hope that never manifest. It's not about the person. Even if you are more secure, you may end up experiencing the codependent dance of addiction to the attachment chemicals. We have to take a step back and know that the person is a mirror. We have the accountability to remove ourselves. That's it. That person is free to be avoidant without you. You are free to detach from them to find healing. The toughest lesson is no one owes us a relationship. We owe ourselves to heal and learn love for self.
I agree. Partnerships mostly uncover our unconscious mind. If we’re focused too much on the other person then we’re unaware of our own experience. We’re also likely unable to experience real intimacy and affection because we’re trying to please the other person or trying to get them to like us.
I seen a video that says the only difference is intent, narcissistic behavior is intentional to teach a lesson or hurt you, avoidant behavior is to protect themselves not hurt you.
Why are they victimising so much? It’s all about them in relationship and when you address that, you are the problem because you don’t understand them. They take everything personally and as a criticism. Not in a constructive way. Too much drama.
It depends on how you phrase it, better to use "I" vs "You" statements but either way if theyre still unwilling to change especially after making it clear its causing harm to the other party its best to give up on them and let them fix themselves if they ever want to live in peace. Ultimately as much as we care for others its not our responsibility to fix them, they need to realize its their fault eventually well unless the other party is codependent/anxious then both parties have work to do.
@@elisalin1491 Yup, even with that sugar coated and they still chose to sabotage it just shows theyre not ready for a relationship/being emotionally available.
Dismissing after they tell you they are crazy about you. It feels like insanity and contradiction. Its like being emotional is painful. They won’t acknowledge it and the cycle repeats
After 5 yrs of beating my head against the wall... I'm moving on.. Avoidant ppl need to stay single..quit stringing ppl along and grow up. My guys way of dealing with relationship talks 👉 Stone walling or emojis 👈 Please avoid these types of ppl who obviously have bigger issues than anyone can handle and wont deal with it themselves... Honestly it feels liberating not to have to deal with his mutant non sense anymore.. I choose me...
Wow! After 20 years of this madness with an avoidant your stonewalling or emojis comment hit really hard! He would either stonewall me or send a 😞. it’s insanity on every level and it leaves you feeling UNWORTHY unloved, and like they are repulsed by you when you need them the most.
You described the incredibly agonizing process I went through with an avoidant ex. I was always in the state of miserable limbo , Confused as to where I stood and would he want to see me again after we had wonderful times together. He’d wait to reach out days, weeks, months sometimes to get together always intermittent communication through only texting. He’s a workaholic and constantly using that or that he was sick as excuses. He triggered all of my insecurities, fear of rejection,anxiety, trauma attachment wounds and my moods were regulated by how he made me feel.
The behaviours you described are set in stone. Even those that are self aware and put effort cannot maintain it and often revert back to the default cycle. Trust me, most suffer but if they start changing it's gonna be slow and painful as long as you react.
I find it interesting how the avoidants in my life have always shown neediness and then detachment, when I am the needy one is treated with annoyance and disdain
i was like..oooh cuz im still a delicious piece of chocolate cake at the end of the day. whether you throw me out or not. im still cake. everyone loves cake.
My avoidant ex had all these tendencies. We were married 20 years. It was hell. I did everything to try and save the marriage. She left without any explanation and had an affair. She even called me a narcissist as I was trying to work on saving our marriage and apologizing for things that I didn’t even do.
I’m not going to fight to have anyone’s attention in my life. I’m not going to compete with anyone for the attention of a person who doesn’t choose me.
2Thilosophocl3s You are very smart and you are secure within yourself. I am the same way. I would NEVERRRRRR waste my time fighting to have someone's attention. I don't HAVE to...and I KNOW it. (lol).
In my personal experience with an avoidant ex, it's not worth the time and effort dealing with someone like this, if they are not willing to fight for you and communicate just let them go, it's hard to let someone you love go, but staying just makes things worse, you will feel anxious, they will never take accountability for the hurt and pain they make you feel and most likely they won't change, so why bother, better to be with somebody else who is going to make effort, or just work on yourself. Because i have called her out multiple times about the stonewalling, gaslighting and how that makes me feel anxious, but she still did it anyways. I understand about the avoidant attachment, but to me my mental health is what matters the most, and after a year and a half fighting for this relationship, studying about attachment styles, doing everything i can to fix her behaviour, turns out it didn't matter because she still does the same thing that hurts me, im officially done, not worth the effort anymore.
‘…doing everything I can to fix her behaviour…’ we can never fix another person’s behaviour. We can only fix our own behaviour and be understanding of what triggers/ underlies other people’s behaviour. However, that understanding does not mean one should accept negative behaviour if it takes an emotional toll.
@@sookibeulah9331 Exactly because what's the point of putting myself in their shoes if they are never doing the same in return? We end up understanding them, considering their world but they don't care how we feel.
Oh gosh. Not a second spent on feeling it was me. No way. It’s DEFINITELY their problem. They lost the love of their life. They undermined exactly what they wanted. So so so self destructive.
They should just have a relationship with themselves period if they choose not to do their healing. Their emotional damage should be billed with interest!
I’m a dismissive avoidant and you described me accurately. I had a relationship break up and did not feel guilty for my actions until four years later. I have been getting help and I’m much more aware of my tendencies.
Any chance you reached out to them and let them know your realization? Maybe it doesn’t even matter by now…I would want to know & get acknowledgment, that’s why I’m asking…I’m happy to hear you had a break through…best to you on you journey😊
It’s amazing to hear you own that…not having any guilt until much later but realizing that it was something you needed help for. Gives me hopes. Out of curiosity, was there any particular experience that triggered this awareness for you?
@alex Thanks for having the courage to comment. What is is exactly that makes you do that, like a sudden overwhelming sense of dread and wanting to escape? Curious, because we have to get to the bottom of this, I don't believe people with normal empathy are dropping relationships on purpose, no sense in it
I believe i am also a dismissive avoidant, in my case the trigger was that i didn't want to break up but agreed on it when the person blamed me about something i wasn't involved with and then they matched it with experiences from the past 7 years, mentioning i was never always present in the relationship, where in i started feeling a distance from this person gradually in the past 3 years but thought I'm overthinking because they're the one who accepted me in the start after they proposed, in spite of telling them i already feel i don't deserve their love. @@ashton1952
“Silence, like a Cancer grows,”….stop acting you’re the cure to his/her Cancer/personality 👉Accept they have an incurable disease👉that can/will be contagious & move on! 🦋
What makes you not good enough is not something inherent to you as a person, what makes you not good enough is how poorly you treat the people you claim to love. They don’t deserve to be subjected to the abuse that comes as a result of your own ineptitude. And this isn’t just for you, it’s for all avoidants.
Wether you pull away intentionally or not, you pull away. Whether you have difficulty being vulnerable or not , you are not being vulnerable. You are unavailable for a relationship while taking up space where someone else could be. Wish you growth or maturity. May God help you. I am out.
it's funny they call you abusive and accuse you of not being ready for a relationship because you wont put up with their arrogant expectations, who the hell are you l can't even yell back at you when you demolish me verbally? when you avoid phisical touch for months as a response to a criticism....instead of explaining why he was so hurt he started planning to leave! no effing way..manipulative and cowardly.
It took me 6 years to recover from 2.5 months relationship with a fearful avoidant. I was the one to end it but it hurt like nothing I ever experienced because I was always wondering, are they the fragile kind person they pretended to be when love bombing me, or were they the cruEl twisted passive aggressive psycho that showed up whenever the mask slipped? It was the most crazy-making and traumatic experience of my life and I look back at it with complete horror. People, date securely attached and anxious preoccupied and let avoidants date and traumatize each other. Sick beyond belief.
I wouldn’t make blanket statements like that. The extreme end of the AP attachment style can essentially be BPD and even NPD-like behavior, which is hardly a walk in the park. People with a less extreme DA or FA attachment, on the other hand, can be perfectly reasonably healthy individuals. Especially if they’re self-aware and working on their attachment. Also, securely attached people can have plenty of character, personality, mental health, and other issues. They’re just more likely to be well-adjusted. Attachment is just a piece of the pie, albeit important. Btw, the vulnerable/fragile lovebombing + cruel psycho under the mask sounds less like a FA (let alone DA) attachment and more like a covert narc. Which is arguably the most AP-leaning of narcissistic presentations. If you’re interested, Dr. Ramani has a lot of stuff on the various types and degrees of narcissism, attachment styles in relation to narcissism, relational dynamics, recovery stuff for victims/survivors… I find her content very interesting, so I recommend it.
@@misspeach3755 I’m not sure I understand why anyone would even think that, tbh. I’m genuinely curious. I mean, what is a narcissist, subconsciously and at their core? Someone who’s extremely dependent on other people for validation and emotional regulation. Someone who views themselves as fundamentally inadequate and others as fundamentally adequate, and projects all that shame - and, really, virtually all emotions - outward because they feel they’re incapable of processing it themselves without being overwhelmed by them, so it’s other people’s job to deal with them, because they’re able to. Someone who will react with great displays of emotions - including resentment, anger, and rage - to any failure by others to care for their emotion (including providing validation) to what they deem to be the appropriate level, so they can get others to mirror them and vicariously process their emotions through others’ emotional labor. What about that sounds like a DA? Or like…not the opposite of a DA, and pretty much spot-on an extreme presentation of an AP or extremely anxiously leaning FA attachment? I find the connection between DA and narcissistic really confusing, honestly.
@@EIizabethGraceI don’t think narcissists do view themselves as inadequate. They view everyone else as inadequate and themselves as more than adequate - similar to DAs.
This is so spot on. So sad to feel so close to someone and think that they feel the same and maybe they actually do, but they talk themselves out of the relationship because of their deep insecurities. Mind blowing when they have so much to offer. I’ve been struggling for 3 months to get my own joy, peace and happiness back. I’m Not sure I’ll ever get back to myself.
Yeah. It is spot on and it makes me sad as well, to meet and be with a soul mate and their trauma puls them out. And the tragedy is they don't seek therapy even when they feel and know it :(... We have to grow from this and take it as a painfull gift, learn from it. Next love story will be beautifull, believe that!
I will say this until the cow comes home that Ken has truly enlightened me in this crazy journey. I feel validated and seen and I cannot tell you how important that is when you have found yourself on the break up end with an avoidant. It's rough and so confusing so having Ken has been such a life saver.
If "getting too close" activates their fear of vulnerability, and causes them to bolt........... Then why would they instantly jump into another relationship, and not bolt, or shutdown with that person? This whole tendency towards making excuses for these punks who pull this type of BS, is getting out of hand. They are soulless hollow little monsters. period.
Not as soulless as codepents. Anyone would do as long as you're getting supply and sympathy from them and have them build a statue for you for being a martyr.
@@apatheliac I don't know about you........ But my definition of "closure" is one which requires acknowledgement of wrongdoings and physical efforts that demonstrate they understand the amount of stress they chose to cause. This is multifaceted, and nuanced. The list contains, but is not limited to, time spent, moves and plans made, agreements that they never kept their end of, lies told, ect... All of which contributed to levels of personal destress, and overall decline in my health and wellbeing. From a psychological, and physical standpoint, which comes at a price. And he always left before the bill came. So "closure" is a matter of equilibrium in the end. Just as it should have been in the relationship. Reciprocity is give and take on both ends. Not where one person does all the giving, whilst the other takes and takes and drains that person completely, only to see if they could. Whilst they do this kind of DA BS to multiple people that they overlap, and think they should be allowed to behave that way, and not suffer any consequences. They think this way, because they're avoiding accountability and responsibility the longer they are permitted to do so.
Hi, I think I have an avoidant (most likely dississive) attahement. It literally destroyed my emotional life. One month ago I learned about deactivating strategies. I was multiple years in thetapy, I felt that some of my thoughts were odd, but I never realised what it is. Once the realisation came it was a real shock to me. I was in a crisis and I broke down for 3 weeks. My awareness rose, and I'm in therapy now. I hope I can help myself. The first thing is to deeply accept myself the way I am. When I watched this video I felt deep pain. I don't want to hurt anybody anymore.
This video gave me the closure I needed for so long. I don't know how but this guy delivered a work so good that I couldn't find anywhere else on RU-vid. A good question. How to spot an avoidant before geting too envolved?
losing yourself also doesn't make it possible for a real relationship to form, because then it's just them, there's so much below the losing yourself. There's a good example in "conscious uncoupling" step 2 or 3 I can't remember which.
Avoidants are like a dog at the pound that had an abusive previous owner. It will take time, patience, understanding and a lot of love for that dog to open up and become and behave more like a more normal dog. If you win their trust and loyalty, they are fiercely loyal. They need to feel safe, they often need to learn to communicate properly. Often they stay silent about how they feel for a long time, then they “shut down” later. Sometimes they can try and avoid trauma, emotions and conflict with alcohol, drugs, sex, etc.These patterns can be broken by allowing them to feel safe and by cool, calm communication. These patterns can also become more complex if they become addicts or alcoholics, then other toxic behaviour stems from hiding, justifying and enabling the addiction. Avoidance triggers may trigger binges where they escape reality. You will never be able to lie to them, yell at them, gaslight them, play mind games, have double standards, be controlling, verbally, emotionally or physically attack them or overly criticise them, because it triggers previous trauma on a conscious or subconscious level. Once triggered their emotions “shut down”/ close-up, like an oyster or clam closes when you poke the pink soft parts. It takes time for them to feel safe again and to open up emotionally. If you like direct, harsh confrontation, you are not a good match for an avoidant. Narcissists tend to like avoidants. People with strong narcissistic tendencies can have secure attachment styles based on questionnaires, and tests. Avoidants are not prone to seek power in a relationship through abuse and manipulation, they avoid conflict, fights, etc. They may lash out when cornered. Don’t confuse a person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder with an Avoidant, do research. Many people may date a Narcissist and end up labelling them Avoidant. Avoidants don’t want confrontation and conflict, they run and hide away from it. Avoidant attachment style is more than just an attachment style, it’s a self defence/ coping mechanism learned at a young and vulnerable age, where they were often abused and couldn’t fight back or always run, so they run if they can but they shut off the emotional body to handle the intense emotions associated with the trauma. It’s like a switch that flips once emotional intensity gets too high, usually conflict related. Being in a relationship with an avoidant requires the avoidant to work on their trauma and triggers, but it will also require their partner to work on their conflict resolution style, be less critical, confrontational and aggressive, watch your tone of voice, etc. Careful sensitive communication is required in a safe space. If things get heated it helps to practice restraint, take a step away, calm down and return to a calmer discussion. Sometimes texting, email and writing (from a neutral space) can be a “less confrontational” way to get feelings and thoughts across. Insecurely attached people hate this though, taking a step back makes them anxious, which may make them more aggressive in their approach. Depending on how severely an Avoidant was attacked or hurt during an argument, they may stay emotionally closed up for an hour or a year. They don’t always have control over it. It helps if they know this about themselves and you know it, because then you can wait it out with them or even help coax them out of it. With the right partner some Avoidants can become excellent partners. Breaking up and getting back together leads to trauma bonding, which can become a toxic pattern, for you and the Avoidant.
I can't give you what you want... I can pay half the bills - yes you can't give me enlightenment, or perpetual happiness/liberation from ceaseless human suffering. This is true. BUT you giving me a cuddle and doing some things with me is what I need. Not the rest persay. I wanted a slightly deeper commitment or acknowledgement of your love at this point. That was it.
@@elgeebee5250 yep. honestly, if i wasnt as strong as i am (and it hasnt felt like it) and i didnt have kids, honestly... im not even kidding. it wasnt so much that it ended it was HOW it ended and HOW i was just discarded like I meant nothing. no check in as a friend, nothing. it just absolutely blows my mind. i honestly feel worthless, like i am scary or something- it's really taken a massive hit to my confidence and self esteem. i dont mean to be victim but its been hard to move on without the closure that i needed and still need. :(
@@elgeebee5250 i am so sorry that you went through that. i dont wish that kind of pain on anyone. and then you feel and sometimes go a bit bananas coz its like trying to communicate with a brick wall. i just honestly cannot understand it. and espcially, when underneath it all- you still kinda thought you had a basic friendship. i must be a fool
If I could honestly say. If you meet an FA. … RUN. There is absolutely no way they can sustain intimacy. Don’t spend time with them as SOON as you see them deactivate once. Leave them. They are a total ruin of intimacy.
@@sunbeam9222 you are stuck in flight and spite. The defensive anger and lash out, blaming others. You can’t self reflect and every single secure person you meet can “see” your incapacity. It’s not up to anyone to cop your lack of insight or abuse. You’re looking for an outside source of your problems in me. And you won’t find it here. You won’t get anywhere by blaming me for your problems. Secure attachment is outside your reach and you sabotage it. Stalking me won’t help you.
@@sunbeam9222this type of commentary like who hurt you, are you sure you are secure no longer works. Calling out what is generally true doesnt make this person insecure. Being uncomfortable with the truth like you is insecure.
I am glad you speak about the probably fakeness of their next relationship, sometimes getting married and having children as advertised on social media. A friend of mine kept telling me of this experiencr twice and I was like: but how do you know that they are really connecting??? 80% if not more of couples I know are NOT intimate in the proper kind of way, communicating their emotions non-violently, asking deep questions etc. They are just living side by side. There is no way in the world that someone who wasn't able to go deep with one or like many people suddenly wakes up and has an intimate experience with the next person. I have never seen this.
Wow thanks for this. My ex who was avoidant and never good at being emotionally available, which made a committed relationship truly impossible, blindsided me with a breakup after adding me as the beneficiary of his life insurance for “when we get married and have kids in 2024.” We were together for two years and had an engagement trip planned for this past Jan. What do you know, he blindsided me for a young coworker and he just posted photos from their January trip. He broke up with me for her, started dating immediately, went on this trip a month later and now are acting like their lives are amazing.
There's something I just don't understand, and I'm trying to ask this in the nicest way possible because I'm not judging anyone here, but I don't get why anyone would care? I mean, you aren't with this person anymore, and they didn't choose you. What goes on in their next relationship really isn't any of your concern, and I don't understand why anyone would care quite honestly. I mean, let's say that this person is actually able to commit to the individual they're with after you, then all that means is that individual apparently has given them something you couldn't. There's nothing wrong with that at all, and it's nothing to take personally. We can't please everyone, nor can we be everything to everyone and sometimes things just don't work out. But an inability to come to terms with that is the problem here, not whatever you or the other person was lacking in their past and now defunct relationship with you. Or, let's say that the person you were with IS faking their connection with this new individual... What does any of that have to do with you? They aren't your problem anymore, and focusing on what they're doing or not doing doesn't serve you. Again, I'm not saying any of this with any kind of judgement or ill intent, I'm just trying to understand the thought process here because this seems to go against everything I know regarding healthy coping skills and emotional regulation with regards to rejection and disappointment.
@@lizb4156 I'm not sure being in love, automatically informs being preoccupied with the sincerity of the relationships your ex has formed after you've broken up, and they've made it clear that they have no intentions on ever committing to you or meeting your needs.
@@STARSAPPHIRE91 I think there are many reasons people ruminate on this, I sympathise because I did it a lot in the past, I was in this loop with avoidants (not that I knew about any of this stuff till v recently) - it was a combination of still being attached / in limerence to the person - combined with my low self-esteem, thinking about their new partner person was another stick to beat myself with. There's something about these people that pushes our attachment stuff that we get stuck so long in this. It's not as easy as you say, even though you're trying to say it politely, 'inability to come to terms' with the fact it's over. This has changed now - my current break-up is the cycle-breaker - knowing what I know now about my ex. I'm heartbroken, and miss the beautiful parts of him every day still - but his severe avoidance escalated into hardcore verbal abuse, eventually DV. He won't look at it since discarding me after we worked on things together, won't get help, has already rewritten history about our relationship and why it ended (ie, all my fault). 4yrs living together, trying for kids, building a life. Discarded brutally, blocked, no closure, no goodbye. I'm def not ruminating over the new person if there already is one. I know the same pattern will play out, and I've found out it had with his previous longterm partner before me, too. So I just want to say to anyone reading that if you're trapped in this loop of looking at the next person, they're in store for the same pain as you, possibly worse. Do what you can to cut yourself loose emotionally.
I was with my FA for over eight years. She was the most beautiful lady and was super upbeat and charming, a real people-pleaser. Her biological father left when she was just one-year-old, her mom remarried, and then left to go to rehab when she was five (not sure of this age exactly). Her mom met a guy in rehab, and left her step-dad. The mom moved away with this new guy and left her with her grandparents. Her mom dumped this guy and married a fourth time. Talk about abandonment wounds. My FA married at 20, and had been in a 25 year marriage with an alcoholic, who verbally abused her. As she had three girls and no income at the time, and couldn’t leave him until the ladies in church set her up with a place to live and a car. They finally divorced and she met me. We took it slow, but even still, she and I loved each other right away. I honestly thought the Lord had sent her to me. She was absolutely sweet. She “love bombed” me and I didn’t know what that really meant then Then, after about four years, she suddenly became distant and got mad at me for throwing her a birthday party with the wrong cake and the wrong flowers. What did I know, I’m a guy? She abruptly broke up with me in a bar, telling me we were incompatible. That made no sense to me… we told each other of our love every day and always, always held hands. She got triggered. She refused to discuss anything with me, and wouldn’t even come to my car to talk. She came back four months later and loved-bombed me again. She said she realized she wasn’t expressing her needs and apologized to me several times in letters, and told me she would never leave me again. She said she wanted to marry me and asked me for a ring. However, she put off the wedding a few times for various reasons but it was really about her fear of commitment. Her ex-husband died after we were together about five years, and she was the one who found his body. After some months she became distant and explained she didn’t know why she was grieving him so much. She asked me to be patient with her grief. We finally got married at the urging of our pre-marital counselor. At our wedding, her youngest told me, “I’ve never seen momma so happy.” But, on our honeymoon, she began acting distant again. She and her girls had not yet moved into my house, and she began being really controlling and critical of me. I hardly saw her for three months, then she came over and said, “I can’t do this. I have to take a leap of faith and be on my own. I want to be friends, and co-parent the girls together.” I said I couldn’t do that. Subsequently, in texts, she blamed everything on me, and also told people ridiculous things about me. She hid the marriage from almost everyone. I found out she met with a guy secretly before she left me, and now they are together. It was an immediate rebound. This has been the hardest thing in my life. It’s been about nine months now, and sometimes I still can’t out of bed in the morning, and she still consumes my thoughts. My counselor tells me I am in love with the girl she pretended to be, but not the real her. He tells me she is a very wounded person, and if she doesn’t do some real healing, she would always be like this. I am really having a hard time.
Your story is truly horrific. FAs are arguably the WORST in terms of emotional rollercoaster. Hang in there mate. My FA ex has a similar story to your wife. Her mum left her biological father at 10 months, and they moved to another country and her mum immediately got pregnant with another man's baby. Total emotional neglect. Im lucky mine lasted all of 5 months, I knew something was wrong because the behaviour is just mind boggling. After she discarded me and rode the lines between friends and romantic partners I instinctively knew there's an issue with their brain and everything is just not normal. Only truly understood everything after i found out about attachment theory. I pray for your well being.
‼️Just a horrific experience brother! My heart goes out to you… talk about bad Karma? Look: read all the tragic comments & you’ll feel better in time - now we see why the great spiritual sages were celibate - no partners! I feel bad for those kids too… everyone’s a freaking victim of crazy selfish Avoidants . I just had a taste of one; thank goodness it only lasted 4 months & didn’t sleep with him … some of us are more psychic & can sense a mentally unstable person quicker. I pray you continue in therapy & find a rock solid spiritual woman who will nurture your trauma. Peace Out ✌️ 💗
WRT compassion for another’s life story and struggle-I can hurt with you, and I can hurt for you. But when I am being hurt *by* you, it’s time to draw a line.
Thank you. Ive learned this : If dating a DA, they will leave when it suits, eventually, and they rely on you caring and making excuses for them whilst youre being played, albeit subconsciously. Answer is just enjoy it and dont be deluded that the relationship is something special when it actually means little to them apart from the narcissistic supply they're receiving.
Not entirely true, don’t conflate avoidant attachers with narcs, they are not the same. The avoidant genuinely wants love and intimacy, the narc wants to manipulate and sap your energy. The intensions are different, intensionally malicious vs. childhood trauma, expressed in fear of commitment(abandonment)
@@norswil8763 oh ok. My mate says he cannot understand emotion at all and has little if any conscience and seems to have no feelings of guilt so I guess more narc or even sociopathy. But I've learned not to care as he doesn't.
@@desertdog8006 you’ve got the right attitude, I wish I could turn it off as easily. But that’s actually sounding pretty avoidant, they’ll feel emotions up until they freak the fu€k out and then they can turn them off. They’re like slow to warm up, then once they do it scares them and they block it, usually by dumping you quick and becoming busy with hobbies or the worst starting to date immediately. My ex literally told me she loved me just before the breakup, and then did again 4 months later and a week later told me she started dating someone, I guess to try distract herself… clearly won’t work in the long run. They’re just confused.
I am happy that in this video you brought up the fact that our "sense of choice" is removed by these avoidant individuals, because part of their need to control does remove the other persons choice. The avoidant is scared and to avoid reflecting on their own feelings they "control" the narrative by removing our choices. I myself have experienced this.
This was well-balanced Ken. Very often an avoidant does feel very deeply, and is able to see and feel much more deeply than other people, so it can be totally true that the connection you have had with them was completely real, but they simply cannot 'stay' in the fire for too long, because it burns them too much. They have to escape and shut down, so you get this maddening feeling of someone drifting in and out of a shared paradise, before their demons rise up, and claim them, forcing them back into hiding, the only place they know. Truly heart-breaking.
"You aren't worthy of touching my dignity. If you can't fight your demons for me, then you aren't worth fighting FOR. Show up or shove off, my attachment style requires being shown I’m wanted. Every day." , is what you say.
"...we don't have emotional issues here, in fact, we don't even know what emotions are..." I was laughing out loud. Thank you sooo much, this first video from you what I am watching now is already HELPING me to release something I thought I would never be able to..... I am super grateful
God bless you for calling it abuse...that's what it is even if it's not out of malice. I've spend 4 years in Wonderland..."no room move down!“ nothing makes sense everyone is mad here ( in a relationship with dismissive avoidant)
Thank you so much for this I’ve just been abruptly left by a fearful avoidant no closure he even left everything he owns here and blocked me on everything i love your videos they are helping me so much I’m only 5 weeks in and it physically hurts everyday
I feel for you dear. I went through this and I can finally say I’m getting over my DA. It was so hard because I didn’t understand any of this psychology stuff but now I understand and that has helped me. I meditated a lot with Alpha Wave sounds and that has helped regulate my mind, I now think less and less about him, but I’m not going to lie the fact that they left without explanations is the part that kills me inside. I have hope that someday he will boomerang so that I can at least get a conversation in or some type of explanation because I’m now more understanding of his emotional needs and I won’t be so anxious.
People like this are supremley selfish. I believe it’s partially genetic. People who are avoidants are extremely difficult to be in any type of relationship with… even just regular friendships. I have been in one with someone who is like this and fought very hard for over a decade, and then finally gave it up. It’s not worth the effort, you basically choose this kind of person if you’re a martyr and you like to work really hard. Once you realize what it is, you should just quit. Then, Once you get with somebody who is giving, thoughtful, kind, you will be angry at yourself for wasting as much time as you did on somebody who does not put even 1/10 of the thought into you and your feelings as they do themselves . And at this point, I don’t even care what the etiology of it is, I don’t care anymore, why they are the way they are. I would advise anyone who’s in a relationship with a person like this who’s dating or not yet had to leave immediately it will never be OK and you will never be happy. Anyway, that’s my two cents worth after having been with one.
Managed to put one in a spot she couldn't get out of, it was like pulling teeth. And then she finally boasted (it didn't sound like an apologetic confession at all): I'm selfish. I admit it. They see selfishness as a virtue even if they have to hide it. The rest, avoidance bla bla, is fluff.
@@apatheliac the point is, (for me) its too much work for very little reaward. It takes a person with their own pathology, such as a martyr or someone who has a need to please others no matter what to tolerate the relationship. For people want to try and have a life, and do other things, it doesnt work bc too much time is spent repairing, figuring, puzzling and being in a push and pull dynamic through the life of the relationship which is exhausting. So maybe in your twenties and early 30s when you still have enough energy to want to save the world, but as you approach 40 you just get tired of it. So, Just say no. Someone else can do it. The avoidant seems immature in relationship matters bc they have too much fear and it just does t seem to progress beyond the limited comfort zone of the avoidant. The constant need for them to be coddled and treated with kid gloves necomes the sole function. And having been in really good relationships, and then one like that, there’s just way too much goodness to miss out on in a connection with another human who can give back instead just needing to be fed. All the good things that come with a connection and give and take are amazing. So for me, to spend your life fighting to get someone just to teach them how to get out of the basics is too sacrificing. Its not personal, and there is someone for everyone as we all have our own pathologies. ❤️🩹💜
@@ashton1952 the thing is, there isnt much difference in the way you get treated between NPD, aspergers or spectrum disorders and avoidants, except for motive. Motive is the separator. NPD is currently the only one with malicious motives and thats being challeneged now as they research NPD, it might be an entire genetic predispotion and simply a means of survival, much like the others.
I appreciate anybody trying to understand and improve themselves better for their loved ones. Best of luck dodging the pitchforks and torches in the comment section.
I get that it’s hard for them but I tried everything to fit myself in to help and support and he just threw it all away. We could have had something really amazing for a long time 😢 and my whole entire year has been ruined and I’m just putting back the pieces
Another way that I have experienced is that they check out emotionally first and then they would simply not be engaged and I assume that’s when he felt the relationship was burden but we are still together and figuring it out day by day ❤
I will always say that broken people break others leave these people alone. Healthy people do not act this way they talk it out work it out.unless they are just bad people. I've had it I don't ever want to meet another. Narcissist and avodent dismissive people need their own island. Leave us healthy people alone. Because love is not suppose to hurt.
They don’t have the capacity to address problems on an emotional level so they just ditch and run. It may leave you in a dark place but imagine that they leave their lives like this. It’s a sad state of mind
What's even more problematic is avoidants make up a large portion of the dating pool -- they recycle through people jumping from one person to the next hoping to find "the one" that will magically solve all their relationship woes. They fail to see they are the common denominator.
@@rupertperiwinkle4477 I think what is more problematic with avoidant people is that these dating apps have them completely in avoidant mode. There is always the ‘alternative’ now , literally in their hands.
@@zazlar4228 Yes agreed. Dating apps are scams playing on peoples hopes but they are really filled with avoidants looking to play with people's hearts so they can fill up their lonely voids. Avoidants are deeply lonely people.
One of the most insightful videos i’ve ever seen. I was in a few month situationship, he lovebombed me then became distant and cut off. I wasn’t perfect and our communication was awful but I had to end it. It’s been one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever been through. Still love him.
The crazy part is after ghosting they reach out months later and continue to sporadically send hi or how are you messages. Even when messages are ignored they keep reaching out. Very bizarre behaviour.
I went through this for five years, this last year I feel I said so much to him as a way to finally end things and put a end to the insanity but now that I have educated myself on the subject and feel secure I have yet to hear from him. It’s been 4 months, I know he’s with someone already but I don’t see it working out for him from what I hear. I wonder if he will ever try after the firewall I put up 😂😂😂
It's because they are lonely. Here is what a lot of people don't understand. An avoidant can still care about you, but they are terrified of the relationship. So they reach out to still have a little bit of connection to you. They miss you but not enough to jump back in to a relationship.
They are still talking to you in their head meanwhile 😂 So, basically having an ongoing relationship 😂 In their head! Just make him pay next time. Basically make clear, that if you like me - show it. Say what you need, something tangible. Just for getting time with you and chatting or texting - it has to be paid. Say you need something done with your car and he should pay it. Make him right away pay for your attention or he gets none of it. 😂 Paying for your gym membership... Have some ideas ready. Makes the person realize that not only he has needs but also YOU as well.
@@Psych1_- I don't think I was talking to you 😁 Or about your case. Consider what the video was about and also the comment by the woman I responded to. Solely how to handle a man that wastes your time. Probably there will be no intention in having a normal balanced relationship with that guy, hence my response 😁
Thank you sir. I just had my fiancée abruptly end our engagement a few days ago after just a week earlier telling her family I was her soulmate and she couldn’t wait to have kids with me (as a result of taking care of her through a pretty traumatic emergency surgery and recovery). Sadly I’m aware of her avoidant attachment style, and I know deep down she does love me… but I’ve never had the process she goes through explained so succinctly. This has really helped ease my suffering and make sense of something that really doesn’t make sense. Thank you again for this.
@@albiblow 🗾Excellent! And don’t forget to give time for a spiritual quest bc that’s the ultimate truth we need - not attention or validation of a partner. As holy Bible says: “The heart is desperately wicked, who can know it”
I'm glad you addressed the prevalence of cheating with avoidant attachment styles. This is actually the first time I've heard someone mention it, and I've watched countless hours of videos on YT about avoidant attachment. My avoidant ex cheated multiple times during the last year of our marriage. I took it hard and really felt like there was something wrong with me that drove him into the arms of other women. To be discarded and then to later find out that I'd also been betrayed and disrespected was incredibly painful. Run away from avoidants, as fast as you can! They're not worth your sanity!
The way you communicated this dynamic of what it feels like to someone in relationship to a dismissive avoidant vs what the attachment style is doing for the avoidant really makes sense to me. Thank you.
My gosh!!!!! This finally mks sense!!@ iv been wt this one guy for 10 freaking yrs we break up n Get bk toght he avoids arguments like the plague! I thought I wanted bk wt him until I heard this tonight thankyou...oh yeah he has NEVER FOUGHT FOR ME EITHER! IM ALWAYS TTHE ONE FIGHTING FOR HIM
We all have maladaptive behavioral patterns, coping mechanisms, etc of some flavor. Its complicated being a human. Thats not our fault, but once we're adults, it's our responsibility to do what we need to to not be a destructive force in the world. If someone cant or wont - we need to avoid them at all costs- once we're aware of whatever core childhoos wound that's driving that pattern of attraction, we CAN heal.
Absolutely bob on.. this is exactly the scenario I was fighting for 6 years.. I finally had to end it for my sanity, my mental health and my heart.. It was never going to work. Despite all she kept saying, the actions were never the same.. If you are in this situation. Stop. End it, no matter how difficult it feels. You will never fix the situation.. save yourself and move on with your life..
This is so accurate! Scenario one for me and everything you said was 100% accurate. I appreciate yiu using the word abuse because quite honestly it is...very damaging to be on the receiving end of this complete turn around. I have been very traumatised and the cognitive dissonance is horrible. It has been 7 months and I am in therapy as a result and am terrified of getting into another relationship. I can't even date anymore because my anxiety is so high. Then to see them actively back to dating within a week if breakup makes me furious that they will repeat this and damage someone else! The worst bit is still wanting them back....and hoping they change 😅
What they do with someone else is none of our business. Take care of yourself from this day forward - if it doesn't feel right or good, talk about it, if they're not invested.. leave.
Absolutely agree with this - been through these ‘cycles’ for 3 years and it can destroy you emotionally, when they do it the first time and you don’t know then about attachment theory, it’s a complete shock. The pain is unbearable from missing them but I would advise everyone to just get out and work on your own healing and self care and self love so you don’t get into something like it again. The signs can be there early - avoiding meeting, endless false words that don’t get backed by actions, suddenly leaving then coming back after a few months, they don’t want to lose you but can’t put in any more effort apart from constant texting. Heal yourself to not allow it anymore.
You understand the crazy making dynamic. I met someone who finally gets me, but can't be with me because of his avoidant wounds. It is the most awful feeling. Thank you for making this video. It is validation for me. He just can't be with anyone.
"Moving on" I also believe is working through the situation and being past it, so you can continue your life in a better light and are no longer affected by the situation. This also means, often, starting a new chapter in your life or continuing to work towards a strongly held goal without allowing the issue or person from the past to interfere in that process.
OMG the chocolate cake comparison 🤣 two years ago I made my ex chocolate cake for his birthday and left it in front of his door for his birthday…next day I get a message “I’m allergic to cake” and then received a picture of the cake lying in His garbage. Who the fuck does that??? But listening now to you comparing avoidancy to an allergy to chocolate cake made me laugh 😂
Here's hoping you've met, or will soon meet, someone who's much more considerate, securely attached and, of course, loves and appreciates your chocolate cakes, too!
This is so helpful, thank you. Allergies is a great analogy. I've decided I'm not compatible with someone who has this allergy. One of the first signs is the hot and cold dance. I don't know that dance and I don't want to know. Be well everybody!
I loved this woman like no other , but since few months into the relationship I started to noticing some selfishness just to get gradually worst . Looked like in times she didn't care about our relation and everything was about her . I end up with a severe anxiety that I could not understand. Just few days ago she dumped me out of rage blaming me for everything without reasoning ...Today I feel that I have wasted my time energy , time and somehow lost .....mi advice is juts keep yourself away from avoidants....at all cost .
I start to believe they have ‘chemistry' with all of their encounters. Most of their partners, long or short lived, are that "wonderful person", crazy chemistry etc. so none feels truly special and thus there’s no fighting necessary. I know, this may come very blunt but it’s probably true. In many videos you describe the encounter with a FA for instance, being that crazy energy experience. I agree. This is how I felt. So I wonder if there was TRUE chemistry or if that’s just their style?! If I felt it, who says all the other women didn’t? So if there this magnetic vibe with most of their encounters, it’s normal to them. Whereas for me, this happened only twice in my life (I’m 33). I’ve dated, had boyfriends, loved and been with men I truly liked and cared about - however that chemistry is super rare for me. If it’s not for them, then there is no reason to fight, bc they know, soon they will feel it again. I think many avoidant partners are also chasing/hard time to get over BECAUSE of that special energy. Bc for us this feeling doesn’t come often (at least for me). Just an idea, worth debating :)
I've thought this exact thing. My FA ex broke with me twice just as things were getting really good. We were so good together, so I was baffled why she'd leave such a great relationship. Then it got me thinking that maybe all of her relationships are just like ours. Maybe she gets on that well and has that kind of chemistry with everyone she dates.
@@disorder_go yup. But perhaps it’s also just us in the moment trying to make sense?! I think it’s best to just ask them. It just got me thinking bc Ken mentions so often, that with them you have crazy chemistry. So I was like, wait - does that mean it’s not real?! Bc for me it only happened a few times in life. I was in long term relationships with other men, loved them deeply but still the chemistry wasn’t like those two times. One of them was an FA.
@@samiraport I think the chemistry comes from fear and is repelling for people who don't have the same background, in terms of parents who might have also regularly withdrawn themselves. I've had the same thought, that's nothing special for them because they probably often get the same reaction from people. Very sobering thought.
Well, Avoidant individuals including the 2% fearful avoidants are emotionally immature. This chemistry or the great "Magnetic" feeling is just like children going inside of toy stores, it's something fantastic until you grow up. When you get emotionally mature you can handle your feelings and you don't fall in love with all of the individuals you meet. All avoidants are emotionally immature and don't understand what's happening because they don't self reflect. When they have entered the toy store it's so wonderful - but after a while the feeling disappears and they leave the toy store ASAP just to enter a new Toy store after a small break. OR they "Monkey branch" in to a toy store with other toys for a while until that feeling disappears again. When the Avoidants fears get triggered they leave the toy store - They have a fear of being Abandoned. When this fear gets triggered in their head - in their head they automatically find other excuses without knowing it's a lie - they usually stone wall and discard their partner without remorse (for a while). After a while when their fears goes down - the old good feelings for their partners re-appears. You choose your partner and your partner chooses you. - Not some magnetic feelings based on childhood trauma. It's very important to set ut healthy boundries with avoidant partners - and stick to your boundries! Leave them asap if they break them.
I've watched and listened to so many videos on avoidant attachment. This is one of the best! Very informative and healing for those of us who were burned by an avoidant.
This was immensely helpful! and thank you for the validation at the end. I'm at the cusp of letting them back into my life (after 3 months apart) and this has really give me a lot to think about before I make that move. Especially knowing you've never seen it succeed. Even once. Huge wake up call!
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! I hate to admit that I am one of those avoidant attachers. You have laid me bare. This is something I really needed to hear. Something I needed to understand about myself. It answers SO MANY questions about my past. About my relationships. About myself. The shameful and perplexing ways I dealt with them. Now it makes so much sense. Period. Thank you .
This is so helpful. I've been insanely in love with a woman who pulls away from me whenever we get close. I've finally found it helpful to see this relationship with your insight.
Completely in alignment with your definitions of moving on and moving forward. I have done both. Thankfully I am now in the moving on phase. I think it is a deep process of realisation and developing one’s maturity that comes with learning to process one’s emotions to the point of objectivity and releasing the person wishing them well at the same time. I arrived at that place and I feel really light and solid within myself. It’s about being inward focused. Surrender to the inner guidance from within your own love and source of power. Nobody outside of you can provide you with emotional balance and stability. Only you can do that!
I read the book called Attachment by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. It’s great for figuring out your own and your partners style. It’s great info that is what you’re describing in written form. What caught my attention to your channel was your #1 and #2 examples. I dated someone who was a combo of both. It took 2 years of therapy and a lot of work on my own stuff to recover in a healthy manner. Honestly love yourself, have boundaries and use what you learned to move on in a healthy way! I appreciate channels such as yours. Thank you!🙏
Fearful avoidant attachers should improve and overcome the triggers and be securely attached. To be healthy means you have a lot more to offer. Closing off should be replaced with open communication
This is incredible and so spot on. I can’t even tell you how much this meant to me. Thank you for this post. I recently broke-up with someone who is severely avoidant because there was a pattern that at first I thought we’re just distancing moves and later simply became abusive towards me and he couldn’t seem to stop making devaluing comments and making- up any excuse to not spend time with me, it was getting awful. This ex literally did everything possible to make me break up with him. I couldn’t help but start to think about all the devaluing comments and, believe that it was me. This video made me realize that’s not the case. Thank you for helping me understand and feel so much better. The gift of inner peace is beyond measure. Thank you. 💕❤️
It is totally horrifying going through this crap. There were so many times that I thought I was done with this pain. It's all gone one day and I think I am done suffering and then the next day I want him back again knowing he doesn't want me. Yes I want complete and total closure.
This understanding helps a lot. My ex-gf never stated or implied that i was “not enough” but i could tell that the instant the intimacy increased was the instant she would pull away. Again and again. Your video fills in all the blanks of what is going on “over there”. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for this, Ken. After five years, I've just broken up with someone who has a 'dismissive avoidant' attachment style and have been very upset about his seeming lack of care or concern. Your clarification on why they do this has comforted me immensely. I'm truly grateful that you've soothed me.
Ken, so many of us here learned first-hand about the nightmare of a DA and were thinking it must have just been us. Your insights are SOOOO spot-on and so helpful for perspective and healing.
super avoidant person here, i'm glad I only engage in some of these behaviors... some of this is just cruel , but I can easily imagine being under so much internal and external pressure that it might make sense to say or do some of these things certainly I can understand that I've made some mistakes, and I've hurt some people in an effort to close off and reduce attachments , vulnerability thanks for vouching for us and trying to help others understand us , and not internalize our actions ; the idea that people like myself hurt others just drives me to stay alone so I don't do so, which I've done for just shy of 20 years now. Its probably killing me in the long run.
Thank you so much! Very validating and extremely helpful. I just experienced a breakup with an FA, and its been one of the most emotionally painful experiences of my life. Everything you said was SPOT ON. Please make more of these. Thank you again 🙏🏾
First time listening here Ken. This is such a perfect explanation Ken! I have had a few men in my life with avoidant attachment styles. Yeah and they come back after the heat of arguments have completely calmed down. Completely selfish to protect their own feelings and yet deeply connected at the same time because truth is they are insecure and never let go. I know this from first hand experience. Two have gradually been trying to come back. I know what the issues are and Ken you have confirmed them in this video. I can’t and won’t be there for them again. Period. It’s time for people to behave like adults not like children in adult bodies. I’m saying this from a place of taking responsibility and sure we all do it differently. However we are not owned by anybody else so move on instead of exposing yourself to toxic abuse.
I love her so much that I am here trying to understand her. She’s been through enough already I know, I can’t stand her thinking she’s unlovable or undeserving. She ran away but I love her enough to let her find her own way.
Bringing me comfort after 15 months of healing after I dealt with two avoidants back to back. I’m disorganised attachment so I identify with this on some level but with them I leaned anxious.
Same here. Last two of mine were with dismissive avoidants. I didnt even know what that was until recently but i lean anxious too. It answers alot of questions but it doesnt hurt any less
Same. Never new I had an anxious side till I dated a DA. The irony of this situation is that I've always thought I was an avoidant. He worked hard so I woudl feel safe around him. Which I eventually did. I loved him, and for the first time in my life, I open up to someone. We have been building an emotional connection and intimacy. It was beautiful, and I knew he loved me. Apparently, I could work with my avoidant tendencies, because of course I had them. But he wasn't willing to do the same for me. It triggered the anxiousness I had no idea I had, and everything ended very quickly from this point on. He ended up ghosting me, a day after a serious conversation when he stated that he loved me, and wanted reassurence that our relationship wasn't going to end within a year or so.
brillant understanding and dissection of the complexities of avidant behavior but I think it is still important to remember that we are speaking of a particular characteristic that can be mitigated through therapy . I do not believe in writing people out by putting them into boxes and shunning them forever.
Thank you for this. It feels validating to hear that dealing with a break up with an avoidant is a mind f@!* and gaslighting. It’s been 3 months since I got coldly discarded from my 2 year relationship and I’m frustrated with myself for not being over it. But it is incredibly difficult. Trying to give myself grace
I have given myself my own closure because I know these men will never give me closure. So how have I done that? Moved on, released them emotionally through integrating my own emotions and truly wishing them well. Go No Contact.
I wish I had the opportunity to listen to this two years ago: much much long-standing pain would be avoided. You explainde everything that has given me a cognitive dissonance. I was pretty tortured by that and spent lots of energy to sooth it, even to the point of doubting heavily that I am capable of love after this relationship. I was left deeply crushed and even didn't want to embrace people at all since embrace itself was used as a tool to evoke hearfelt deep love, and then thrown away like trash. I am well on my way of healing, I did it almost on my own, it cost me lots of energy - and during this time I couldn't work as much as I would have wanted or needed to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May your words help other people.
OMG this video is so scary in how everything he is saying is exactly how my relationship with my fearful avoidant ex and the subsequent breakup has become. This is the best video on RU-vid for me so far! Shoutout to all the other RU-vid channels: Craig Kenneth, The Love Chat, etc
