Attachment and 9/11

Dec 23

By Jay Slupesky

World Trade Center tribute, 9/11/2005 If you read my blog entry Are You Attached?, you may be curious about how you can find out what type of attachment best describes you. Here’s a good way to find out. Ask yourself how you respond (or who you go to) in time of fear and uncertainty. What do you do when you feel threatened? Who do you talk to when you are discouraged? In cases like this, do you have someone you can go to for comfort? If so, you are probably securely attached to that person. He or she is the one who can soothe you and help you feel like everything is going to be OK. If that person is your spouse/partner, that’s great!

What if, on the other hand, you don’t have anyone you can go to in your times of trouble? You are alone, and you become nervous and upset. You are anxiously attached.

Or what if you think that no one could possibly help you, and that you are strong enough to solve your problems on your own? You are avoidantly attached.

Think back to September 11, 2001, when you first heard about what happened and realized the magnitude of it. How did you react, knowing that the U.S. was under attack? Did you talk to a friend/spouse/lover who helped you feel more secure? Did you become anxious, upset, or depressed? Or did you feel detached? This is a good way to understand your attachment type.

For those in marriage therapy, or just contemplating your relationship, it’s good to know what type of attachment you have with your spouse/partner. Is he or she a source of security for you?

Tags: Attachment

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 at 1:23 pm and is filed under Attachment.

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