Fear of intimacy is an intense fear of being physically, intellectually, or emotionally close to another person. Also called intimacy avoidance or avoidance anxiety, a fear of intimacy is often caused ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Travers writes about the world of psychology. You know that feeling when everything seems fine with someone you’ve been ...

The quietest fears can often hold the greatest power over you —learn how to release them for stronger intimacy and create meaningful connections. If you’ve ever felt distant, hesitant to open up or ...

Intimacy disorder affects how people connect emotionally and physically with others in close relationships. While it’s not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, mental health professionals see it as a ...

I’ve recently noticed that I might be a people pleaser. I’ll deny it if you quote me because mostly, I can hide it under a veneer of I don’t care! Co-dependency is a pattern of behaviour where a ...

Four examples—literary, biographical, autobiographical and contemporary—illustrate the significance of intimacy as a cultural ideal and why, despite our deep longing for it, intimacy remains elusive ...