Fearful-Avoidant vs Dismissive-Avoidant
Fearful-avoidant and dismissive-avoidant attachment look similar on the surface but work very differently underneath. Here's how to tell them apart.
Both fearful-avoidant and dismissive-avoidant attachment involve emotional distance — but the reason for that distance is fundamentally different. Understanding which pattern you're dealing with changes everything about how you approach healing and how partners can support you.
| Fearful-Avoidant | Dismissive-Avoidant | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Experience | Wants closeness but is terrified of it — both abandonment AND engulfment feel dangerous | Genuinely prefers independence — closeness feels threatening but distance feels comfortable |
| Emotional Awareness | Aware of their emotions but overwhelmed by them — feelings are chaotic and contradictory | Low emotional awareness — genuinely doesn't recognise feelings until much later, if at all |
| In Relationships | Hot and cold — oscillates between desperate attachment and cold withdrawal | Consistently cool — maintains emotional distance without the dramatic swings |
| After Breakup | Feels both relief AND devastation simultaneously. May reach out then disappear. Unpredictable. | Feels relief. Moves on quickly (or appears to). Grief surfaces much later as the 'phantom ex.' |
| Root Cause | Usually rooted in childhood trauma — a caregiver who was both source of comfort and source of fear | Usually rooted in emotional neglect — a caregiver who was dismissive of emotional needs |
| Therapy Response | Benefits enormously from trauma-informed therapy (EMDR, somatic, IFS) but progress is non-linear | Benefits from relational therapy but may resist it. Progress is slow but more linear. |
Why These Types Attract Each Other
These two are less commonly paired than anxious-avoidant, but when they are, it can be confusing for both. The fearful-avoidant's anxious moments pull the dismissive-avoidant in, then the fearful-avoidant's avoidant moments create mutual withdrawal. Neither fully understands the other because their withdrawal comes from different places.
Can This Combination Work?
It's challenging but possible. The key is recognising that the fearful-avoidant's withdrawal is fear-driven while the dismissive-avoidant's withdrawal is comfort-driven. Different motivations require different approaches.
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