Abandonment issues usually stem from some kind of loss, abuse, or unmet needs. In the long term, they can lead to relationship problems. Therapy may help you overcome your fear of abandonment and build healthy relationships.

Fear of abandonment is a type of anxiety that some people experience when faced with the idea of losing someone they care about. Everyone deals with death or the end of relationships in their lifetime. Loss is a natural part of life.

However, people with abandonment issues live in fear of these losses. They may also exhibit behaviors that push people to leave so they’re never surprised by the loss.

A fear of abandonment isn’t a recognized condition or mental health disorder. Instead, it’s considered a type of anxiety and is treated as such.

This behavior can have unhealthy consequences. Over time, it can ruin relationships and prevent the development of healthy bonds.

Learn more about how these fears develop and how they can be managed.

People with abandonment fears exhibit many of the same behaviors, though some may be more prominent than others. These symptoms include:

  • Cycling through relationships. Some may engage in numerous superficial relationships. They may fear intimacy and find a reason to leave a relationship before the other person can.
  • Sabotaging relationships. Some may act irrationally to get out of relationships. For example, you may knowingly push away a partner so you won’t feel hurt if they leave.
  • Clinging to unhealthy relationships. Some people with abandonment issues may stay in relationships despite a desire to leave. The fear of being alone is more powerful.
  • Needing constant reassurance. Some may constantly seek out a friend or partner and demand emotional guarantees. They may regularly urge friends or partners to make broad statements, such as “I’ll always be here,” and then say they’re lying.

Symptoms of abandonment issues in children

Children with healthy emotional attachments to their parents often become upset when they’re left, even if only for a short time.

Some level of this reaction is natural. However, it may be a sign of an underlying mental health condition when it leads to:

  • Separation anxiety. If a child becomes anxious about their parents going somewhere in advance, the child may be expressing abandonment fears.
  • Panic. If a child begins to panic when they don’t see their parents, their overreaction may be a sign of an issue.
  • A fear of being alone. Some children won’t sleep without their parents or even let them step out of the room.

Some abandonment issues and fears can become invasive. They can prevent someone from leading a happy and healthy life.

A history of any of the following may increase the risk of a type of abandonment fear:

  • Neglect. People who have experienced neglect abuse, or abandonment, especially during childhood, are more likely to develop this issue. Likewise, adults who were neglected as a child are more likely to repeat the behaviors with their own children.
  • Stress. High levels of stress may make naturally occurring anxiety worse. This can worsen fears and lead to new anxieties.
  • Traumatic events. Those who have experienced an injury or death may be more likely to develop these issues.

Healthy human development requires knowing that physical and emotional needs are met. During childhood, this reassurance comes from parents. During adulthood, it can come from personal and romantic relationships.

Events can interrupt this assurance at any age. When this happens, abandonment fears may develop. These events may include:

  • Death. Death is natural, but that doesn’t make it less traumatic. Losing a loved one unexpectedly can create an emotional void that can be filled by fear.
  • Abuse. Physical and sexual abuse, along with other types of abuse, can increase the chance of mental health issues, including a fear of abandonment.
  • Relationship loss. Divorce, death, infidelity — they all happen. For some individuals, the end of a relationship can be too painful. It may lead to lingering fears.

Treatment for abandonment issues focuses on establishing healthy emotional boundaries. You need to build an toolbox of responses to deploy when you feel old thought patterns emerging again.

Primary treatments for abandonment issues include:

  • Therapy. A mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor can help you overcome fears of being abandoned. They’ll also work with you to understand where the fear originates and what you can do when you sense the fear rising.
  • Self-care. People who fear abandonment may benefit from self-care. Making sure emotional needs are met is important for friendships and relationships. This way, you’re able to better provide for your partner, friend, or child.

Helping a loved one living with abandonment issues can be difficult. After all, if you bring up your concerns, their instinct may be to challenge you and your loyalty to them.

While people with abandonment fears differ, these techniques may help you care for someone who has a fear of abandonment:

Pause the conversation

Highly emotional conversations will inevitably become unproductive. When this happens, try pausing the conversation. Let them know you care but step away for a few hours.

Be supportive of both yourself and the person with abandonment fears. People with abandonment issues may struggle more with this, particularly if their conversation partner leaves without telling them where they’re going.

Let them know:

  • where you’re going
  • how long you’ll be away
  • when you’ll return

When you return, begin the conversation from a less emotional place.

Support and validate their fears

Validation is an important part of trust in a relationship. When supporting a loved one with a fear of abandonment, validation means that you acknowledge their feelings without judgment. Such understanding of their fears is a key to maintaining communication.

Validating a loved one’s fears doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with them. Instead, you’re supporting their feelings to further build on trust and compassion.

It’s just as important to prevent saying things that might invalidate your loved one’s fears. Avoid unhelpful phrases, such as:

  • “It’s OK, just let it go.”
  • “Everything happens for a reason.”
  • “That didn’t really happen to you.”
  • “Why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?”
  • “Things could be a lot worse; you’re lucky.”

Tell them how these behaviors make you feel

There’s no harm in honesty. When you’re upset, clearly express what you mean and how their actions are making you feel. The honesty may be disarming enough that you can make progress.

Helping a child with abandonment issues

If you suspect your child has abandonment anxiety, it’s important to get them help as early as possible so they can develop secure relationships. Talk with your child’s doctor about your options.

These strategies may be helpful with children:

  • Seek professional help. For some children, talking with a parent or teacher may be uncomfortable. A professional may feel less intimidating.
  • Encourage kids to express their feelings. Children sometimes fear their emotions may upset their parents. Be a blank slate to your child’s feelings. Let them bring up everything they feel while you acknowledge it all.
  • Offer validation. Instead of seeking a solution for their worries or fears, offer confirmation of their feelings. Tell them simply that it’s OK to feel how they do.

Treatment for this type of anxiety can be very successful. It requires commitment and self-care to feel more confident in relationships — but it can be done.

For many people with these issues, worries may linger. A therapist can teach you how to cope with these thoughts when they pop up.

They may also encourage you to return to therapy if the thoughts and anxieties become problematic again.

Many individuals with abandonment issues may not recognize how destructive their behaviors are. They may purposefully endanger relationships as a way of avoiding hurt.

These behaviors can lead to long-term relationship problems.

Treatment for abandonment issues focuses on helping people understand the underlying factors that lead to the behavior.

Treatment can also teach coping mechanisms to help manage these anxieties in the future. This can help foster healthy relationships.