107. UNDERSTANDING ATTACHMENT STYLES, BREAKING FREE FROM UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS & PROCESSING GRIEF WITH DR. MORGAN ANDERSON

May 29, 2024 Crate Media

Today, we welcome the inspiring and relatable Dr. Morgan Anderson to the show – a distinguished clinical psychologist, relationship coach, leading attachment theory expert, and author of the relationship self-help book, Love Magnet.

Dr. Morgan has dedicated her career to unraveling the intricacies of love and connection, bringing over a decade of practical experience to her role as a relationship expert, and shaping the discourse around modern dating and relationships. Dr. Morgan empathically guides individuals through her method, blending the science of attachment theory with real-world insights for amazing results.

In this vulnerable and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Morgan opens up about her own experiences with loss and grief at a young age which led her on a mental health journey and mission to help others. She breaks down the hallmarks of attachment styles and provides actionable tips for breaking free of old patterns and moving towards a secure attachment style.

We also talk about the importance of learning how to self-regulate and set up a culture for your relationship around your shared goals and values – just like you would with a business or brand!

Dr. Morgan also opens up about an incredibly important mental health topic: loss of a loved one by suicide. She talks about how this loss motivated her desire to help people have healthy relationships, and shares her advice for communicating your concern with a loved one who’s trapped in an unhealthy scenario.

This conversation is full of incredibly helpful advice for anyone looking to understand their attachment style and dive deeper into healing. This is your reminder that you are worthy of a loving, secure relationship!

(00:04:42) Dr. Morgan’s Personal Journey of Loss, Grief & Healing

Grief journey losing her mom at 6 years old
Living in survival mode in the midst of losing a parent
How her father’s turmoil in romantic relationships bled into her own life
Escaping a narcissistic relationship after a near death experience
The power of deciding to finally heal and have secure attachments

(00:12:02) Exploring Attachment Styles: Anxious, Avoidant & Disorganized

Can you have more than one attachment style?
Explaining the attachment styles: anxious, avoidant, disorganized
Grappling with the fear of abandonment from anxious attachment
A misconception around avoidant attachment and fear of intimacy
Disorganized attachment’s correlation to childhood trauma
Your nervous system’s role in attachment styles
One attachment style that leads to trauma bonding

(00:21:14) Tips for Moving to a More Secure Attachment Style

Identifying hallmarks of secure attachment
Learning to associate relationships with a new blueprint (not self-sabotage)
How to heal your attachment style
Relationship Attachment Style Quiz
Understanding how attachment styles are formed
How letting go of unhealthy relationships can impact your life in a positive way

(00:27:13) Cultivating a Healthy Relationship Through Self-Regulation Practices

The ingredients of a healthy relationship
How to be a love scientist
How to navigate the beginning of a relationship and set boundaries
Dr. Morgan’s dramatic past dating stories
Learning how to regulate our own emotions
Dr. Kristin Neff mindfulness practice

(00:37:38) Creating Your Relationship Culture & Navigating Hard Times in a Healthy Way

What is conscious coupling?
Defining your relationship culture and what you want to co-create together
How often to check in with your partner
A framework for navigating conflict in a healthy way
Navigating trauma and hard times within your relationship

(00:42:53) A Compassionate Conversation Around Losing a Loved One by Suicide

Dr. Morgan’s experience losing a loved one by suicide
A message to anyone struggling with mental health or relationships
Advice for communicating concern with a friend in an unhealthy relationship
Podcast: Let’s Get Vulnerable

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