How Attachment Can Impact Addiction
Our early relationships with our primary caregiver can have a huge impact on how we approach the world and how we cope with life’s challenges. It can even shape and influence our behaviour which can result in addictions. Let’s take a look at the link between attachment and addiction and what it means for us.
What is Attachment?
Attachment is a fundamental part of human development. It is the emotional bond that develops between an infant and their primary caregiver - typically, their parent or parents. This bond is formed through physical and emotional interactions, such as being held, touched, and comforted by the caregiver as well as their emotional stability and predictability. As children grow and develop, these attachments become more complex and can extend to other people in their lives like teachers or peers. Attachment styles tend to stay consistent throughout adulthood; they’re shaped by our early experiences of trustworthiness, security, and responsiveness from caregivers or other important figures in our lives. These attachment styles can be categorised into four main groups: secure attachment; anxious-ambivalent attachment; avoidant attachment; and disorganised-disoriented attachment (also referred to as chaotic/frightened). A secure attachment is one in which the infant feels safe and supported, while an insecure attachment can be characterised by feelings of fear, guilt, and vulnerability.
How Does Attachment Impact Addiction?
The theory behind this has to do with people's need for love, security, self-esteem, and belonging - needs that were not met in their childhoods due to an insecure attachment style. When a child has a secure attachment style with their primary caregiver it provides them with feelings of safety, trustworthiness, and responsiveness. This helps them build resilience for challenges later on in life such as coping with stress or dealing with difficult emotions like anxiety or depression. However, if the child has an insecure attachment style due to the lack of availability from their primary caregiver then they may be more prone to developing addictive behaviours later on in life as a way to cope with difficult emotions or situations. For instance, if a child develops an anxious-ambivalent attachment style due to inconsistent responses from their caregiver then they may become reliant on external sources of validation, which can be in a form of drugs or alcohol in order to feel contentment or acceptance. Alternatively, if they develop an avoidant attachment style due to feeling rejected then they may use substances in order to numb themselves from feeling any pain associated with rejection or loneliness.
Therefore, addictive behaviours can be seen as a way of filling this void without having to rely on other humans for support. As such, addiction is often seen as a maladaptive coping mechanism used by those who have difficulty forming healthy relationships due to their past experiences of insecurity or neglect.
Treatment Options
There are several treatment options available that can help people who struggle with addiction to address this issue from both a physical and psychological perspective. Individual and group psychotherapy treatments are important part in one’s recovery. Family therapy can be also at times indicated to help support the whole family system. In addition, support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous provide an environment where individuals can connect with others who have gone through similar experiences and form stronger bonds based on shared understanding. Lastly, medication may also be needed depending on the addictive behaviour and the severity of it, and therefore involvement of a medical professional(s) is also often necessary.
In conclusion, it’s clear that there is a strong link between attachment styles and addiction. Without proper support from caregivers during childhood development it can lead to difficulty managing emotions which often leads individuals towards addictive behaviours later on down the line. Therefore it’s important for parents/caregivers to be aware of this connection so that they can provide support for their children when needed in order for them to have healthy coping mechanisms rather than relying on external sources like drugs/alcohol for comfort or validation. Additionally it’s important for those who struggle with addiction to understand why they feel compelled towards these behaviours so that they can receive the appropriate help needed in order to recover fully from addiction(s).
Therapy with Michaela offers addiction treatment, please visit our website for more information.