Ann, a secure attachment expert, and Sue, a mindfulness practitioner, discuss what secure attachment looks like in daily life. They talk about conversation skills, parenting practices, self-check-ins, and deepening connections. They also explore the difference between feeling secure and being secure, the importance of integration and security, and the role of curiosity in maintaining a secure state of mind.

You don't have to be totally healed from years of therapy under your belt or a history of secure attachment to develop skills for increased intimacy and secure relating. This is something that anybody, no matter their history, can begin to learn. Channeling your inner awareness to recognize a heightened state of arousal or using visualizations to help stay in a regulated place helps tap into your right brain to connect with yourself and your humanity. Ann and Sue navigate their personal examples, self-regulating tips, breaking out of their defensive "competitive head", and many more useful strategies to explore the ways we can move in the direction of secure connections.

Attachment basics are explored in this episode. Ann and Sue break down what attachment is, its impact on early development, and the importance of understanding attachment patterns. They discuss embodied stories, the protection system, and building secure attachment through curiosity. Topics include coherent narratives and recognizing patterns in nervous system behaviors.

Join inquisitive guests John, seeking clarity on TEAM techniques, Ann, looking for solutions to her blushing, and Dylan, curious about response timing in CBT exercises. They discuss whether one can successfully do TEAM on their own and explore the intricacies of positive reframing. Ann's struggles with social anxiety lead to insightful conversations about self-acceptance and managing blushing. The dialogue also delves into the value of combining self-help with professional guidance in mental health journeys.

When you unconsciously deem "power" as what keeps you "safe" in vulnerable situations, reflecting and rewiring on this dynamic can transform your connections. Human defenses are quite necessary to protect our nervous system and sense of self. The goal isn't to eliminate defenses - but to learn how to regulate them, especially in relationships. Defenses can often feel triggered when there is an uneven power dynamic expressed in a relationship and can be influenced by outside factors like gender socialization, culture, or personal history.

Vox senior correspondent Ann discusses the challenges faced by the sandwich generation, caring for children and aging loved ones at the same time. They explore the gaps in eldercare policy, the emotional challenges of caregiving, the declining ratio of caregivers, and the limitations of Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, they discuss the difference in costs and care between nursing homes and at-home caregiving, the challenges faced by caregivers, and the need for better elder care policies and support.

Delve into how early experiences shape internal working models of attachment, influencing relationships. Learn about caregivers' role in shaping emotions and beliefs about relationships. Explore misunderstandings, insecurities, and projections in real-time interactions. Discover the importance of self-awareness for secure relating and applying attachment theory in daily life.

Authors Ann and Sue discuss understanding attachment spectrum colors, recognizing internal activations, and shifting activation levels. They explore blue leaning patterns, dismissing attachment activation, preoccupied patterns, trauma resolution, and the importance of learning how our body responds when activated.

Authors Ann and Sue discuss themes from their book 'Secure Relating: Holding Your Own in an Insecure World'. They emphasize the importance of secure connections, healing, personal growth, and collaboration to overcome division. They break down the three sections of the book, highlighting the healing process and building agency in relationships.

Ann and Sue discuss the importance of secure relating in their upcoming book. They delve into the three R healing spiral, recognition, reflection, and rewiring. They also address how to be secure when others aren't and the privilege of true safety. The podcast emphasizes the accessibility of secure relating to all individuals.