Therapist Uncensored Podcast TU78: The Stress Response System (Attachment) Across the Lifespan – (Replay)
Sep 26, 2018
Explore the fascinating connection between attachment styles and stress responses across the lifespan. Discover how cortisol levels are linked to our reactions and development. Learn about the adaptive nature of insecure attachments in challenging environments. The discussion delves into how peer relationships influence adult dynamics and the importance of therapy in fostering security. Aging brings unique shifts in attachment needs, emphasizing emotional presence and community support. Tune in for insights on nurturing connections in personal and caregiving relationships.
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Attachment Tunes Your Stress Set Point
- Attachment shapes an involuntary stress system (HPA axis) from prenatal stages onward.
- Early caregiving sets a cortisol "set point" that affects reactivity and recovery throughout life.
Culture And History Raise Baseline Stress
- Strong maternal relationships predict lower waking cortisol in children.
- Yet broader societal and generational threats can raise baseline cortisol despite good caregiving.
Insecurity As An Adaptive Strategy
- Insecure attachment is an adaptive strategy for threatening environments, not just pathology.
- Those strategies help survival but may harm long-term relational security.