Why do I push people away when they get too close?

If you've experienced abandonment, neglect, or emotional hurt in the past, your brain learned to protect you by creating distance before others can leave first. This self-sabotage feels safer than risking the pain of being left again. While this strategy may have protected you once, it now prevents you from experiencing the deep connections you actually crave. Recognizing this pattern is the first step. Therapy can help you understand these protective mechanisms and learn to stay present in relationships despite the fear.