The act of being overly attached or clingy is a way of avoiding being parted from something. The phrase is frequently used in romantic relationships to describe someone who demands reassurance from their partners in a strenuous, agitated, or even compulsive way. It’s often like someone who keeps asking their partner to make promises, but even when the partner goes out of their way to show their love and devotion, the “clingy” person is still not sure how the other person really feels.
Clingy behavior in relationships comes from a person’s desire to fulfill their unmet needs, whether they be emotional, physical, spiritual, or mental. The person clings even more tightly to someone or something in order to reduce the risk of experiencing fear and anxiety related to the worry that their needs won’t be met.
Clinginess in Relationships
Notably, the term “clingy” or “clinginess” in relationships frequently has a strong negative connotation. It is more beneficial to refer to this as “anxious attachment.” This indicates that you constantly seek assurance because you worry that the other person will grow disinterested in you or leave. According to the psychological framework known as “clinginess theory,” there are four different attachment styles that a person can have. One of these is the anxious clinginess style.
Clinginess in relationships frequently receives a bad rap, but frequently, those who exhibit clingy behavior are unaware of how they come across. Since they are more concerned with assuaging their insecurities, the fear of abandonment overcomes their ability to maintain composure. Patterns will frequently show up in actions like obsessively texting your significant other to check in throughout the day, obsessively checking their social media accounts to see what they’re up to, and making early effusive declarations of love (which may seem hollow at times) to forge a stronger connection.
What Causes Clinginess in a Relationship
It’s common to want to spend time with your partner, but for some people, giving their partner space can be challenging. People who are clinging and find it difficult to give their spouse the space they require may be acting out of fear, mistrust, or insecurity. Even though space is a crucial component of a strong, long-term relationship, it can be challenging for those with clingy partners to distance themselves from them.
Additionally, clinginess is damaging to a relationship. The non-clinging partner may feel as though their autonomy is being questioned and that they are unable to express their opinions for fear of upsetting their clingy partner. It may also play a role in the breakdown of the relationship. In response to your clingy behavior, someone may ghost you or stop the relationship abruptly, he warns.
#1. Linked at the Hip
A certain clingy type may be present in those who are overly attached to their loved ones. People with an anxious, concerned attachment style frequently seek out other people to complete them. They exhibit this clingy behavior. They may alienate people due to their clinginess, which heightens feelings of insecurity and encourages more clingy behavior.
#2. Issues of the Past
Clingy behavior can occasionally be influenced by the past. In a Psychology Today article, trust issues from early life can sometimes be the cause of clinginess in relationships. Most kids discover that their parents always return after taking a break. A vast array of less profound experiences, such as abuse and neglect, can prevent this lesson from sinking in.
#3. Health Issues
Clinginess in relationships can occasionally, though rarely, be a sign of a mental illness, such as dependent personality disorder. If you or a loved one has this illness, the behavior is far more intense than typical clinginess. People with dependent personality disorder struggle to make even routine judgments without receiving a lot of outside information. They relinquish control over their lives and obsess over not being able to handle things on their own. Consult a trained mental health professional if you have concerns about your symptoms or the symptoms of a loved one.
#4. Adapting Our Behavior
Clinginess frequently develops into a habit. The individual must first acknowledge that their clinging habits are a problem before they can be changed. You can call your clinging partner’s attention to these habits, but be careful to do so in a supportive, nonaggressive manner. If you are the clingy one, try not to let your relationship become the center of your universe. Take care of your relationships, interests, and goals. Be mindful of your actions and think about how your spouse could interpret them. There are situations when the purportedly needy partner is not the issue. For a relationship to work, both parties must totally commit to it. Even the most secure partner is susceptible to clinging emotions when engaging in sneaky, manipulative conduct, such as lying or avoiding the other person. Before assigning responsibility to one partner over the other, consider both parties’ behaviors and interpersonal abilities.
Clinginess Test
Do you ever question whether you are a clingy boyfriend or girlfriend? That’s what this quiz is for, then. Being clingy is bad, and dealing with it isn’t much fun either.
Are you possessive? Do you feel the need to know what your partner is doing all the time? Do you feel that you need to know everything at all times? If so, this quiz can help you determine that in a matter of minutes.
#1. When did you Start Dating your BF/GF?
- Around two weeks
- Roughly one year
- Around 5 years
- Roughly six months
- Roughly three days
- Roughly three months
#2. Whether or not they are Attractive, do you get Really Angry or Envious when other People of the Opposite Gender chat with them?
- O yeah! I detest it when women or men approach him or her.
- It occasionally depends on how attractive the individual is.
- Not really, I guess. I don’t make a big deal out of that.
- O no. I know I’m their number one, so he/she can speak to anyone.
#3. Do you Frequently Inquire where Your GF/BF is Going when they go out?
- oh yeah! I have a right to know.
- Occasionally, but only when it conflicts with our plans
- Actually, it’s not a big deal.
- No, it’s not as if I’m his or her parent.
#4. Do you like to know who they will be hanging out with every day?
- Yes, I dislike it when he or she associates with individuals of who I disapprove of.
- Oh, Occasionally. It depends
- Oh yeah, I’m really not into the whole meddling in other people’s affairs thing.
- Oh no. He or she is free to hang out with anyone.
#5. Do you frequently feel the need to Publicly Display your Devotion to them in order to Convey Your interest in them?
- Yes, people should be aware of when to withdraw.
- I enjoy it when folks know when I’m not accessible.
- Oh no, I believe in him/her.
By the end of this quiz, compare your answers to the signs below to get a full understanding of where you really stand.
Signs of Clinginess
#1. Requesting assurances repeatedly
Clingy spouses frequently seek confirmation but nevertheless harbor lingering doubts. It may sound like this:
- “I don’t think you care about me.” Why do you think you do it? “
- Do you find me attractive?
- Are you certain?
- Will you ever abandon me?
- I don’t deserve you, I say.
- “Because I adore you so much, anything would be worth it. Would you help me in any way?”
- “Can you repeat that for me?”
Even if your partner says and does everything correctly, you won’t feel a lasting decrease in your anxiety because you don’t fully believe them. A few weeks later, or if you’re feeling especially uneasy about your friend and their affections, you might ask the same questions once more. You might speed up your declarations of love and want to forcefully move the relationship forward (possibly before it is ready to do so) in order to strengthen it so that you can be sure of their feelings and your shared future.
#2. Expecting Ongoing Dialogue and Interaction
There is a compelling need to constantly know what their partner is up to. “When you’re apart, you might constantly text, email, GChat, and FaceTime your partner, and if they don’t reply right away, you might become anxious.”
#3. Surveillance and Increased Vigilance
Other overbearing behaviors include checking your partner’s social media accounts, asking them to reveal their phone passwords because you don’t trust them, and, at their worst, prying into their phones without their consent. In order to make sure they’re actually doing what they claim they’re doing, you may also ask them to disclose their locations, but never turn it off.
#4. Needs are Communicated Indirectly
Clingy relationships may not always have the clearest boundaries because you may constantly want to be completely immersed in your partner. Clingy people could find it difficult to express their needs in a relationship. For instance, rather than making a direct request, you might first try to assess their opinion and see if they’d be interested in talking to you about it before making your move.
Making such requests can make you feel extremely exposed because you fear that if you express your needs, which seem cumbersome and significant, they will become defensive and reject you. Therefore, you might use mixed signals, covert techniques, or deliberate manipulation to achieve your goals without having to express them out loud.
#5. Complete Sensitivity to Your Partner’s Emotional State at the Expense of Your Own
There is a chameleon effect at work as you change and let go of key aspects of yourself in order to elicit a particular response and restore security to the connection. Because you intrinsically don’t think you are good enough as you are, you may modify your identity in an effort to be more appreciated.
Clinginess in Relationships FAQS
Is Clinginess good in a relationship?
when everything is new and fascinating and you can’t wait to spend time with people repeatedly. The request for separation from your partner may come as a surprise. Being extremely dependent is typically regarded as a destructive dating behavior, even though your prior relationship may have been “fine” with your clingy tendencies.
What are signs of Clinginess?
The following are some indications of clingy behavior that you should watch out for.
- They Constantly Blow Up Your Phone.
- They experience anxiety when they are among their attractive friends or coworkers.
- Social Media Comes On Too Strong For Clingy Partners.
- They detest it when you leave them behind.
Is Clinginess a red flag?
This “harmless” red signal can turn into a significant problem if communication is vital to you, which it should be. The same is true for clinginess in a relationship or your partner’s propensity to make fun of you.
