If your partner shuts down or distances themselves when stressed, it doesn’t mean they don’t care. People with avoidant attachment styles often move away as a protective strategy—not to hurt you, but to keep themselves safe.
- They’ve learned that relationships can feel unsafe.
- Their nervous system tells them distance = security.
- They may even block their own emotional needs without realising it.
Avoidant behaviour isn’t about not loving—it’s about not knowing how to stay close without feeling overwhelmed. Understanding this can shift anger into compassion. 
Have you ever been on either side of this dynamic? What helped you understand it?
If you want to understand this attachment style more deeply, check out Ep 2 of the Psychotherapy Central podcast: Avoidant Attachment Explained:
Enjoy! Love, Jen
