What is ambivalent attachment?

Ambivalent attachment describes a pattern of mixed feelings about relationships — a deep desire for closeness paired with distrust and fear that the person will not stay. It develops when a caregiver was loving but unpredictable — sometimes warm, sometimes cold. In adulthood, this creates emotional hypervigilance: watching for signs of withdrawal and struggling to feel secure even when a partner is reliable. Lovon offers a space to understand and work through these patterns.