Attachment to me has never been something exclusive to therapy.

I can remember many people in my life to whom I became attached. Teachers, friends, loved ones. It never went too well, they all at some point didn't manage to handle me anymore. I also repeated the same patterns over and over again with those people. I'd feel the same emotions, even realize to some part that it was the same thing happening again and I couldn't do anything about it.

Looking back, I'd say some of these patterns were formed due to not having anyone around as a child to whom I could attach properly. So when I finally had other people showing even a slightly similar interest in me, I'd overreact and hope to find the things I would have needed as a child from those people, and of course they couldn't give those things to me.

Same thing is happening with my T. I am attached, I get way too emotional, I repeat patterns and fears like I've done with so many other people. I think the two main differences are: 1) my T doesn't seem scared off by any of my behavior and 2) I feel through experiencing a relationship where the situation is a lot more safe than in many other relationships in life, I can learn at least some of the things that the relationship with my parents should have taught me.

Sometimes attachment feels safe, sometimes scary, sometimes other forms of unpleasant. I feel it's okay this way. I'm not constantly scared in the relationship, yet have a chance to go through emotions as though it was a normal, usual relationship.

I think it's such a big focus of many people in therapy because lots of people struggle with it. I feel it's relatively simple to get to a point where you have issues with attachment. And it's something that will be reflected in most of your adult relationships. So it seems pretty obvious that it will pop up in therapy.