anxious-ambivalent attachment

Anxious-ambivalent attachment is a pattern that develops when someone experiences inconsistent caregiving during early life, leading them to feel unsure if others will be reliably supportive. As a result, they often seek closeness and reassurance but may become overly worried about being abandoned or not loved enough. This attachment style can cause intense emotions, clinginess, or difficulty trusting others in adult relationships, as the individual strives for closeness while simultaneously fearing rejection or separation. It reflects a deeply ingrained need for security, mixed with anxiety about whether that security will be provided.