A Little Help For Our Friends

The Cost of Anxious Attachment: When Someone's Insecurities Make You Question Your Worth


Listen Later

Send us a text! (add your email to get a response)

Do you ever feel like you're walking on eggshells around someone who constantly needs reassurance? In this episode, we tackle anxious attachment from a different angle - not just what it feels like to be anxiously attached, but how that attachment style can impact the self-esteem and identity of those on the receiving end.

Drawing from personal experiences, we explore how anxious attachment manifests beyond just seeking love and reassurance. When someone constantly questions whether you love them enough, it can lead to profound questions about your character: Am I really selfish? Am I incapable of loving properly? We unpack the phenomenon of "projection," where anxiously attached people might interpret neutral actions through their lens of insecurity, creating narratives that shift how you see yourself. We also address how kernels of truth can be exploited to create damaging narratives - how normal human traits can be weaponized to support an anxious person's fear that they're not loved enough.

For both those with anxious attachment patterns and those on the receiving end or "the avoidant attached" folks, we offer practical strategies. Rather than pathologizing either side, we emphasize how understanding these dynamics can lead to healthier connections where both people's identities remain intact. 

**Do attachment insecurities mean blow-up fights in your relationship? We made something just for you: A guide to "De-Escalating Emotional Explosions."

**We have something really exciting coming up...Our KulaMind "From Chaos to Connection" course and community launches July 14th! There's a limited number of spots to keep the group intimate, so book a free call to apply.

Support the show

  • If you're navigating someone's mental health or emotional issues, join KulaMind, our community and support platform. In KulaMind, we'll help you set healthy boundaries, advocate for yourself, and support your loved one.


  • Follow @kulamind on Instagram for podcast updates and science-backed insights on staying sane while loving someone emotionally explosive.


  • For more info about this podcast, check out: www.alittlehelpforourfriends.com
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

A Little Help For Our FriendsBy Jacqueline Trumbull and Kibby McMahon

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

133 ratings


More shows like A Little Help For Our Friends

View all
The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

The One You Feed

2,510 Listeners

Love to See It with Emma and Claire by Claire Fallon, Emma Gray

Love to See It with Emma and Claire

5,625 Listeners

Love Life With Matthew Hussey by Matthew Hussey

Love Life With Matthew Hussey

2,687 Listeners

The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych by Robert Duff, Ph.D.

The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych

971 Listeners

Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast by David Puder, M.D.

Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

1,325 Listeners

On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

26,938 Listeners

ShrinkChicks by Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

ShrinkChicks

726 Listeners

Let’s Get Vulnerable: Relationship and Dating Advice by Dr. Morgan Anderson

Let’s Get Vulnerable: Relationship and Dating Advice

1,135 Listeners

Psychology Unplugged by Dr. Corey J. Nigro

Psychology Unplugged

714 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

We Can Do Hard Things

41,402 Listeners

Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi by Ramit Sethi

Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi

3,369 Listeners

Reimagining Love by Dr. Alexandra Solomon

Reimagining Love

296 Listeners

Jillian on Love by Jillian Turecki | QCODE

Jillian on Love

1,357 Listeners

The Sabrina Zohar Show by The Sabrina Zohar Show

The Sabrina Zohar Show

4,810 Listeners

You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for Cycle Breakers with Toxic Parents by Torie Wiksell

You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for Cycle Breakers with Toxic Parents

54 Listeners