The anxious-avoidant trap describes a common and often distressing relationship pattern between two different attachment styles: one person with anxious attachment, and one with avoidant attachment. In this dynamic, the anxious partner craves intimacy and reassurance, while the avoidant partner values independence and tends to withdraw when things get emotionally intense. The result? A repeated cycle of emotional pursuit and distancing that leaves both people feeling misunderstood and emotionally exhausted. Conversations feel like a cat and mouse game where neither party is getting their needs met.