Insecure or “anxious” attachment most often manifests in romantic relationships in expressions like "clinginess," jealousy, emotional dependency, enmeshment, or generalized anxiety about the status or trust in the relationship. Many people who experience anxious attachment report feelings of not getting enough or "the right kind" of love and affection from their partner and often need frequent reassurance from them.

This anxiousness is often rooted in early childhood and an inconsistent or inadequate attachment connection with primary caregivers, like mom or dad. A child who did not receive consistent or persistent love or attention from a parent often finds it difficult to find secure and trusting adult attachments. One of the hallmarks of secure attachment is the ability to "internalize" a caring other and experience the consistency of their love, even when they are far away or entangled in other social spaces.

Anxiousness can affect relationships in many negative ways and can often "realize" someone’s worst fear by pushing away a loved one to the point........

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