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Jan 2024
26m 42s

#128: Why Avoidant People Tend to Strugg...

Stephanie Rigg
About this episode

In today's episode, we're talking all about why avoidant partners tend to struggle with defensiveness. While defensiveness is far from being the exclusive domain of avoidant attachment, many people will attest to the fact that avoidant folks are often quick to become defensive in response to relational tension or ruptures - and that this can form a key piece in the negative cycle of many anxious-avoidant relationships.

We'll cover:

  • why defensiveness is a natural response to feeling attacked
  • how avoidant partners can perceive relational needs and concerns as personal failings
  • avoidant attachment and emotional expressiveness
  • how you can start to relate to a partner's defensiveness with greater compassion rather than judgment and blame

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