Intimacy avoidant people fear the smothering sensation caused by enmeshment with another person. When these men and women are in a relationship that starts to feel too close, they begin the process of distancing themselves and eventually creating/forcing a (usually painful) breakup.
Sometimes intimacy avoidant people string their ill-fated relationships together one after another. Other times they avoid romantic and sexual relationships altogether, usually for finite periods of time (a few weeks, a few months, a few years) though occasionally forever.
Nearly always, intimacy avoidant adults have suffered chronic attachment trauma during childhood via repeated physical neglect, psychosocial neglect (emotional and cognitive unavailability), emotional abuse, physical abuse, and/or sexual abuse (overt or covert).
Help is Available
Intimacy avoidance is a puzzle that no one solves without support, direction, and accountability. Seeking Integrity Treatment Centers can provide this. So please, if you are struggling with intimacy avoidance, let us help you. For information about residential treatment, contact us via email or phone us at (747) 234-HEAL (4325).