Attachment Therapy: The Gateway to Healthy Relationships
Often insecure attachments in early childhood lead to attachment issues and challenges in forming relationships throughout life. Attachment issues don’t allow individuals to form emotional bonds or enjoyable and empathic relationships. Early intervention in the form of Attachment therapy can prove to be effective and show signs of improvement
Understanding an attachment issue
When a child has a weak attachment bond, it can result in emotional and social development disruptions. Issues related to attachment bonds begin in early childhood due to incidents of trauma, separation from parents, broken family, instances of neglect, and otherwise troubled childhood. Such issues impact a child’s ability to form secure, and healthy relationships later in life. In addition, attachment is also associated with empathy and trust, and when attachments are not developed early in life, a person never learns to trust and develop a conscience.
Signs of insecure attachment
Some key signs of an insecure and lack of attachment bond are:
- Avoiding eye contact
- Avoiding physical touch or contact
- A self-comforting tendency
- Lack of interest in interactive play among kids
- Inconsolable crying (frequent)
- Rejecting attempts at an emotional connection
- Having poor self-esteem
- Fear of abandonment in relationships
- Struggling to make meaningful relationship
- A feeling of distraught in relationships
- Frequent dating
The above-mentioned signs and symptoms indicate emotional vulnerability and suffering from attachment disorder. With the right intervention via Attachment therapy, an individual can overcome his/her fears and insecurity and maintain relationships later in life.
Play therapy in children
It is always recommended to intervene and start with therapy as early as possible in childhood, as it can be beneficial. Through various therapy mechanisms and techniques, a child will be able to overcome his/her insecurities and learns ways to develop healthy relationships and cope with the symptoms of attachment disorders. Play therapy is considered effective for kids suffering from attachment disorders. The treatment of the child focuses on strengthening his/her relationship with others and developing a healthy and enjoyable attachment.
Adults benefit from therapy
Adults and grownups who have never addressed attachment issues earlier can benefit from attachment therapy as well. With the right intervention, they start seeing the result of attachment issues in their lives and identify the root causes behind their emotional vulnerability and difficulties in making healthy relationships.
The healthy and secure bonds that they didn’t experience as a child gain closure while learning to cope with attachment disorders symptoms and develop emotional attachments. They start accepting love and build deep bonds with family, friends, partners, and children. Thus, seeking attachment therapy, whether one is a child or an adult is highly recommended.
Conclusion
One of the prime benefits of Attachment therapy is gaining an individual sense of security. This promotes the right emotional balance along with enjoyable socializing. In addition, one can also experience an increased sense of self-confidence, and self-esteem after a few sessions of therapy. When one suffers from attachment issues, it not only affects the emotional and mental well-being of a person but one gets affected physically as well.
