Abandonment issues refer to a subjective emotional state in which people feel undesired, left behind, insecure, or discarded. These issues stem from a fear of loneliness, which can be a phobia or a form of anxiety. Abandonment issues can present themselves in three insecure attachment styles: avoidant attachment style, anxious attachment style, and disorganized attachment style. These issues can affect relationships and often stem from childhood trauma, such as the death of or being deserted by a parent or caregiver, neglect, or feeling unloved. However, they can also develop after losing an intimate partner to divorce or death.
Abandonment issues can cause someone to push people away, but they can also have the opposite effect. Someone with abandonment fears may refuse to leave their partner, even if they’re being mistreated in an unhealthy relationship. The long-term effects of dealing with abandonment issues might include severe difficulty forming relationships with friends or romantic partners, low self-esteem, issues with anger and jealousy, finding it hard to trust partners, and fear of being alone.
Abandonment issues are complex and can be difficult to control on your own. With the help of a therapist, you can learn more about your fears and where they stem from. You’ll begin to understand what causes abandonment issues you’ve been experiencing, so you can start to process your pain from the past and build healthier relationships in the future.
