How to Break Emotional Attachment in a Relationship: 15 Ways

It is perfectly natural for us to develop attachments with others as people. However, when they start to get toxic, then it’s time to think about how to break emotional attachments. 

It’s easy to say, “don’t get attached to anyone!” but real emotions are not that simple. Figuring out your emotional attachment meaning can help you work on these attachment issues and have a better relationship.

What is emotional attachment?

Before worrying about how to lose attachment to someone, let’s understand what emotional attachment is. Getting emotionally attached to someone you love or care about is perfectly normal, even healthy. 

So, to the question: ‘is it bad to be attached to someone?’, the simple answer is no. However, things get complicated when there is an unhealthy attachment in relationships. 

If you’re not sure how you feel about your partner and yet you find yourself getting jealous or possessive, it’s necessary to break emotional attachment in the relationship. 

So emotional attachment is good, but don’t get too attached.

Also Try: Do I Have Attachment Issues Quiz

How do you know if it’s love or attachment?

A popular misconception is that people can only be in love if attached to their partner. While some level of attachment is necessary, being clingy can ruin any love you might have for your partner. 

Attachment is stressful and can make you feel powerless. So never get too attached- it can make you distrust your partner and take away your happiness. 

It is hard to break an emotional attachment, especially in a new relationship, since no stable feelings have developed yet. 

Learning the difference between love and attachment and how not to get emotionally attached is important for your mental well-being. It shows you how to get rid of attachment issues.

When does emotional attachment become unhealthy?

The line between secure attachment and unhealthy attachment is thin. When talking about unhealthy attachment, it’s good to think about where this clingy behavior is coming from. 

It could result from abandonment issues, loneliness, or insecurities during your childhood. So, it’s time to figure out how to stop being attached to someone.

Also Try: Romantic Attachment Style Quiz

How to break emotional attachment- 15 Ways

Alright, let’s get down to it. Here are 15 ways on how to break emotional attachment:

Self-reflect: What emotion are you feeling?

1. Categorize how you feel about your partner

Have you known him long enough to love him for his strengths and flaws? If you answered yes, then it’s possible you love him. 

Do you not feel strongly about him, but you like being physically intimate with him? That could be lust. Do you feel attracted to him or his behavior but don’t know him very well? That could be just infatuation. 

Categorizing can make sure you don’t get too attached to him. Being mindful of your feelings can help you reduce attachment and promote a healthier relationship with your partner. 

Also Try: Am I Emotionally Attached to Him Quiz

2. A clean, swift break up

If you realize that what you feel toward him is just lust or infatuation, then there’s no better way to break an emotional attachment than by breaking up with him. 

If you still want to give your relationship a chance, even a short break can help you work through attachment issues.

3. Give yourself some space

If you’re not sure how you feel about your partner yet, but find yourself obsessing over him and the relationship, then you desperately need some time off from it. 

Give yourself some space away from your partner by going on a short trip somewhere or having a self-care day. Making some space in your relationship is good when you’re planning on how to break the emotional attachment.

Also Try: Am I Needy in Relationships Quiz

4. Planned date nights and scheduled calls

When you’re trying to avoid unhealthy attachment in relationships, you can set up a schedule. Spending too much or too little time can make you clingy and obsess over your partner. 

To stop being attached to someone, setting up date nights and scheduling specific hang-out times can help you set up ‘you’ time and ‘relationship’ time. 

5. Find a hobby or a side hustle that you like

As you’re working on how not to get emotionally attached, distracting yourself from your relationship is an important part. Working on a hobby like painting or solving puzzles can take your mind off of your relationship. 

Since attachment has a lot to do with anxiety about relationships, this is an excellent way to destress.

There are different types of attachments according to attachment theory. Anxiety attachment is the most common one where one is clingy and obsessive. 

Learning more about your specific attachment style can help you understand how to break emotional attachment with your partner. 

This video explains attachment styles well-

6. Disable notifications if you’re getting distracted

A common sign of unhealthy attachment in relationships is the urge to text or call them constantly. So, to stop getting attached, a simple trick could be to turn off your notifications. 

It will be challenging to ignore the phone initially, but this will ensure that you don’t get attached to anyone. Research shows that people with attachment issues especially cling to phones to feel secure, and it is a way of being attached to their partner.

Also Try: Is He Losing Interest In You Quiz

7. Have an open discussion about boundaries

A lack of boundaries in a relationship makes it harder to break an emotional attachment. Talk with your partner about how much time you should spend with each other or what hours you can text or call. 

Understanding which days are busy and which days better work to spend time together can do wonders for your anxiety. 

8. Consult a therapist

Even if consulting a therapist can sound unnecessary, a consultation can help you understand your attachment issues. 

A therapist can also help you understand the meaning of emotional attachment and tell you how to get rid of attachment issues. 

Also Try: What Type of Therapist Should I See Quiz

9. Spend time with people other than your partner

When thinking about how to stop being attached to someone, it is imperative not to spend all of your time with them. Try to spend time with family and friends or attend book clubs and parties. 

This way, you don’t depend on them to meet your social needs. This will make sure that you never get too attached to your partner.

10. Start putting yourself first

In a relationship, it is easy to lose yourself. Gaining back your sense of individual identity is how to break emotional attachment from your relationship. Practice journaling, mindfulness, or anything you can do by yourself. 

Research shows that mindfulness is beneficial to break toxic attachment and reduce your anxiety and possessiveness about your partner.

Also Try: When Will I Meet My Soulmate Quiz

11. Make yourself happy

Often people develop very toxic attachments because they feel like no one, but their partner can make them happy. This places a burden on the relationship. 

If you feel this way, then the first step in how to lose attachment to someone is to find things that make you happy that’s not your relationship.

Maybe working out or gardening can make you feel happy. Research shows that activities like these can positively affect your mood by increasing your ‘happy hormones and can make you feel less attached to your relationship.

12. Work towards becoming more independent

Sometimes, when we feel incapable of looking after ourselves, we become very attached to our relationships. If you feel entirely dependent on your partner, it will be hard to break the emotional attachment. 

By getting a part-time job, or a solid friend circle, you can feel more financially and socially independent, reducing attachment to your relationship.

Also Try: Are You Dependent on Him Quiz

13. Take a break from physical intimacy

Physical intimacy can be very consuming. You could find yourself obsessing over it or thinking about when you can see your partner so that you can be physically intimate. 

But this can be pretty toxic if it takes over your life. So when thinking about how to break emotional attachment with someone, an important step is to break the obsessive physical attachment.

14. Hold off on making plans

It is widespread to start making plans for the exceptionally far-off future with your partner. However, by thinking so much about the future, you might be getting too attached to an idealized view of what your relationship would look like. 

It will lead you to get attached to an image of your partner that is not real. So don’t plan too far ahead- try to enjoy the relationship in the present.

Also Try: What Is Your Relationship Pattern Quiz

15. Communication, Communication, Communication

While everyone always talks about communication, it is for an excellent reason- it’s so very important for the health of your relationship. 

Sometimes, people overthink and think that they’re being too clingy when that’s not the case at all! Sit down with your partner and ask them point blank- “Am I being too emotionally attached? Am I being clingy?” and that’s as good a place to start a discussion as any.

Conclusion

It’s easy to say, “don’t get attached to anyone!” but following that is challenging, complex, and messy. 

By drawing clear boundaries, understanding yourself, and communicating effectively, it’s easy to figure out how to break the emotional attachment. So work towards not getting too attached, and a healthy, happy relationship will surely follow.