"For many of us, especially those with anxious attachment patterns that were formed in early childhood, a pause in connection can feel like abandonment - not because it's the reality of the situation, but because it reminds us of old feelings and stories."
"When we're in the early stages of love, we're flooded with cortisol, dopamine and all the chemical chaos that makes infatuation feel urgent and obsessive (the feeling of "butterflies," for example). Layer in those unresolved attachment stories from childhood, and suddenly we're reliving them in real time."
"If we believe we're 'not enough' or that 'everyone abandons me,' then even a delayed text can feel like confirmation of those beliefs,"
"The constant accessibility of modern communication - texts, DMs, voice notes, read receipts - creates the illusion that we should always be available,"
Feeling ghosted often stems from anxious attachment patterns formed in childhood, where pauses in contact trigger abandonment fears rather than reflect reality. Early-stage infatuation floods the brain with cortisol and dopamine, intensifying urgency and sensitivity to perceived rejection. Dating-app dynamics and an expectation of immediate replies create unrealistic standards and magnify emotional reactions to slow responses. Modern communication tools and features cultivate the illusion of constant availability, making delayed messages feel like personal rejection even when the other person is legitimately busy or maintaining boundaries.
Read at HuffPost
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