Fear Of Abandonment - What Is It?
A fear of abandonment, sometimes known as abandonment anxiety or simply "abandonment issues", is a deep-seated fear of being left alone or deserted by someone important in your life.
This fear can come from past experiences of being abandoned or neglected by a parent, caregiver, or partner and is often associated with attachment styles developed during early childhood.
Abandonment issues are actually a common reason for people to seek therapy at our clinic. Our psychologists and counsellors are very comfortable providing support and guidance to help you address these concerns, and ultimately improve the quality of your relationships.
Common signs of a fear of abandonment may include:
In therapy, we can help you understand the root cause of your abandonment fears and learn effective coping techniques to manage them and feel more secure in your relationships.
We welcome you to book an appointment with one of our Halifax psychologists, or complete the form at the bottom of this page.
We offer both in-person and virtual therapy.
We offer supportive, evidence-based, scientifically validated therapy and custom match every client with a therapist who best suited for your needs and goals in counselling.
This fear can come from past experiences of being abandoned or neglected by a parent, caregiver, or partner and is often associated with attachment styles developed during early childhood.
Abandonment issues are actually a common reason for people to seek therapy at our clinic. Our psychologists and counsellors are very comfortable providing support and guidance to help you address these concerns, and ultimately improve the quality of your relationships.
Common signs of a fear of abandonment may include:
- Intense and persistent worry about being left alone or abandoned
- Over-attachment or clinginess in relationships with others
- Fear of rejection by loved ones
In therapy, we can help you understand the root cause of your abandonment fears and learn effective coping techniques to manage them and feel more secure in your relationships.
We welcome you to book an appointment with one of our Halifax psychologists, or complete the form at the bottom of this page.
We offer both in-person and virtual therapy.
We offer supportive, evidence-based, scientifically validated therapy and custom match every client with a therapist who best suited for your needs and goals in counselling.
What Problems Do Abandonment Issues Cause?
Unfortunately, a fear of abandonment can cause significant problems and difficulties in someone's life, especially in their relationships.
Some of the common problems we see are:
Some of the common problems we see are:
- Difficulties forming and maintaining healthy relationships due to fear of being left or rejected
- Low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy or insecurity
- Avoidance of new relationships or situations due to fear of abandonment
- Intense clinginess or neediness in relationships
- Increased risk for depression and anxiety
What Causes A Fear Of Abandonment?
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A fear of abandonment can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
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Keep in mind that determining causation is complicated.
For example, while low self-esteem can contribute to abandonment issues, a fear of abandonment can result in behaviours and relationship choices that lead to low self-esteem.
One very important goal of counselling is to help you break this self-reinforcing cycle.
For example, while low self-esteem can contribute to abandonment issues, a fear of abandonment can result in behaviours and relationship choices that lead to low self-esteem.
One very important goal of counselling is to help you break this self-reinforcing cycle.
What Types Of Therapy Work Best For Abandonment Issues?
Like most personal and mental health difficulties, therapy can take a variety of forms.
Often, it is helpful to use multiple approaches to address the complexity of abandonment issues and help you develop more satisfying interpersonal relationships.
Nevertheless, some effective types of counselling we use at Green Leaf for abandonment issues include:
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and behaviours, and replacing them with healthier alternatives.
CBT can help you:
Often, it is helpful to use multiple approaches to address the complexity of abandonment issues and help you develop more satisfying interpersonal relationships.
Nevertheless, some effective types of counselling we use at Green Leaf for abandonment issues include:
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and behaviours, and replacing them with healthier alternatives.
CBT can help you:
- Identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs related to abandonment, such as "I am not worthy of love" or "I will always be alone."
- Develop healthier coping strategies to manage emotions related to abandonment, such as anxiety or sadness
- Address avoidance behaviours or unhealthy relationship patterns that may perpetuate feelings of abandonment
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy focuses on helping you reframe your personal narratives and experiences, particularly in relation to traumatic or difficult relationship events.
When it comes to abandonment issues, narrative therapy can help you:
Narrative therapy focuses on helping you reframe your personal narratives and experiences, particularly in relation to traumatic or difficult relationship events.
When it comes to abandonment issues, narrative therapy can help you:
- Identify and challenge negative narratives around abandonment
- Explore alternative ways of framing and understanding abandonment experiences
- Develop a more empowering and hopeful narrative around your ability to form and maintain healthy relationships despite your past experiences
- Receive support while you find meaning and growth from your abandonment experiences
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) focuses on teaching skills to manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal communication and relationships.
DBT can help you:
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) focuses on teaching skills to manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal communication and relationships.
DBT can help you:
- Identify and manage strong emotions related to abandonment, such as fear, anger, or sadness
- Develop effective communication skills to express your needs and emotions in relationships in a healthy and productive way
- Build and maintain healthy relationships despite abandonment fears
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping clients accept and embrace difficult emotions and experiences, rather than avoiding or fighting them.
ACT can help you:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping clients accept and embrace difficult emotions and experiences, rather than avoiding or fighting them.
ACT can help you:
- Accept and acknowledge a fear of abandonment and the emotions associated with it, rather than trying to avoid or suppress them
- Identify and explore your values and goals, and commit to taking action towards them, even in the face of their abandonment fears
- Develop mindfulness skills to observe, manage, and encourage helpful thoughts and reflections
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and addressing patterns of interaction and communication that are contribute to negative emotions and unhealthy behaviours.
EFT can help you:
Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and addressing patterns of interaction and communication that are contribute to negative emotions and unhealthy behaviours.
EFT can help you:
- Identify and address negative and dysfunctional patterns of communication and behaviour in relationships that perpetuate feelings of abandonment
- Develop a more secure attachment style and a stronger sense of security within yourself and your relationships
- Develop healthier ways of responding to and managing feelings of abandonment
Can You Help Me With Abandonment Issues?
Yes - we would be very happy to assist you.
Our Halifax psychologists and counsellors can help you identify the sources of your fear of abandonment, such as past experiences or attachment styles, and help you develop healthy coping strategies and communication skills to manage fears in relationships.
Our ultimate goal is to help you build more secure and healthy relationships.
Our Halifax psychologists and counsellors can help you identify the sources of your fear of abandonment, such as past experiences or attachment styles, and help you develop healthy coping strategies and communication skills to manage fears in relationships.
Our ultimate goal is to help you build more secure and healthy relationships.
Let's Get Started.
We are conveniently located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and have many clients from the areas of Bedford, Sackville, Clayton Park, and Dartmouth.
We provide in-person and online therapy to all of Nova Scotia and also offer virtual services to clients in New Brunswick.
Please complete our short request form below and we will be in touch asap with appointment options.
Confidential Contact - Counselling / Therapy
Green Leaf Psychological - Halifax, Nova Scotia
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After you submit the form, we will definitely get back to you. However, email is often filtered into junk mail folders by mistake.
To prevent this from happening, please add [email protected] to your list of safe contacts...or make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a reply in your inbox within 24 hours.
Thanks!
Green Leaf Psychological Services, Inc.