Avoidant attachment can look like narcissism, but the story underneath is completely different. Both can leave you feeling unseen, rejected, and questioning your worth—but a narcissist pulls away for control, while an avoidant partner pulls away out of fear.

What you suppress doesn’t disappear. It lingers—in your body, your reactions, your patterns. It shows up in the way you over-explain when someone looks irritated, over-apologize for things that aren’t your fault, avoid conflict to keep the peace, or shut down when emotions rise. Unprocessed emotions don’t fade with time, they wait for you, quietly shaping how you see yourself and the world around you.