Show Notes
Broadcaster John Offord chats to Helen Dent, a clinical and forensic Psychologist, Attachment style expert and author of “Why Don't I Feel Good Enough?: Using Attachment Theory to Find a Solution” to talk about attachment theory and explains it’s not our fault how we feel – understanding where the emotions come from – come from our relationships with our first ever care giver.
The theme of this podcast episode is the profound effect that early attachment styles (i.e. how you were brought up) have on a person's behaviour and emotions in later life. Understanding how this works and the effect it can have is the first step towards understanding how any emotional problems you suffer from have been caused. No one has perfect parents (leading to a totally secure attachment style) so even people with a basically secure attachment style will also have an admixture of avoidant or anxious attachment styles. Those unlucky enough to have been brought up in a totally chaotic way will have a disorganised attachment style.
Helen Dent, who currently works in the field of autism sets out what the three main attachment styles are (anxious, avoidant, secure) and how we can develop a ‘secure base’ in our relationships (and not just in our romantic relationships but also in our friendships and even with our pets!). Helen explains the difference between healthy dependency and codependency in relationships, how we can manage relationship challenges when we have opposing attachment styles to our partner, how autism relates to attachment theory, why we are more likely to come across avoidant attachers when we are dating, how we develop a blueprint for a relationship, how the relationships that we have throughout our lives can influence our attachment style and how we can consciously work towards becoming more secure in our relationships.
More from The Different Minds podcast series
After 20 months and 65 episodes, the Different Minds podcast series is coming to an end today, (the 31st December, 2021). The host of the show, John Offord said “It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve been honoured to have interviewed such inspirational guests on the series, such as Chris Packham, Steve Silberman and Temple Grandin to name but a few. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my listeners, who without, none of this would have been possible and my sponsor, Aspire Autism Consultancy and former sponsor, Tiimo.” To commemorate the ending of the series, a final episode has been released today where John looks back on some of the highlights of the podcast. “Remember to celebrate our differences and I hope this podcast series has helped you realise there is no such thing as normal. Thank you and Happy New Year!”
Broadcaster, John Offord chats to Bake Off star, Lizzie Acker on her life changing diagnosis and that extraordinary cake that celebrates neurodiversity. Lizzie has Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and Concentration disorder.
Broadcaster, John Offord chats to Jeff Gawthorpe about ADHD. "The human cost of undiagnosed ADHD is incalculable - the broken families, suicides, careers lost, unhappy lives and unmet potentials. This alone should be sufficient for society and our government to start treating ADHD with the priority it deserves". For more details on Jeff's story, please see: https://www.adhdaction.org/ADHD-Stories/Jeffs-Story
Broadcaster, John Offord chats to Oliver Vikse, Project Development Champion for ANDYSMANCLUB who talks about his own mental health journey and how he has used his experiences to help others. Andy's Man Club is a mental health charity, described as "a talking group, a place for men to come together in a safe environment to talk about issues and problems they have faced or are currently facing". It was formed by Luke Ambler and his mother-in-law Elaine after his brother-in-law took his own life. Please see https://andysmanclub.co.uk for more details.
Broadcaster, John Offord chats to content creator for YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, Purple Ella, to talk about life with autism and ADHD. For more details about Purple Ella, please see: https://www.purpleella.com