reassurance seeking
Craving external validation
Reassurance seeking is repeatedly asking others to confirm that everything is okay, that you're not in trouble, or that your fears are unfounded.
Common in anxiety disorders, it provides temporary relief but often reinforces the underlying worry: His constant reassurance seeking about his health was exhausting his family.
The pattern can strain relationships when others feel their answers are never enough.
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- comfortEase or soothing relief
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- fishing for complimentsSoliciting praise indirectly
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
doubt · insecurity · worry · needy · clingy · checking · questioning · need to know · overthinking · confirmation · certainty · soothing · emotional support · peace of mind · handholding · nervous · pleading · vulnerable
reassurance seekingself-soothing
Calming oneself independently
self-regulation · self-reliance · self-validation · self-containment
reassurance seekingletting go
Releasing one's grasp
radical acceptance · equanimity · non-attachment · cognitive flexibility
reassurance seekingself-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
self-validation · self-confidence · self-assurance · secure attachment
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