People with this core belief think no one can adequately meet their emotional needs or give them the love they long for. But it is possible that even a securely attached child can develop a fear of abandonment core belief or any of the additional core beliefs (mistrust and abuse, emotional deprivation, defectiveness, and failure) discussed in this book.

Thank you for this book as this reminds me to be better in my relationship and understanding myself. While our past is always with us in some form—whether it’s lurking in the shadows or out in the sunlight—it’s important that we put it in the proper perspective.

As Skeen notes, ‘’When you are stuck in your story, your hardwired fear response takes over and you detach from the present moment and react based upon past experiences. This is a subset of 18 schemas that form as a result of unmet core needs in childhood and adolescence or of toxic childhood experiences.

If you've ever struggled with building strong and healthy relationships despite fears, anxieties and roadblocks from your past, you must read Love Me Don't Leave Me. A securely attached child is cared for by someone who is attuned to the child’s emotions—­reliably and consistently. Someone important to you—­your mom, dad, stepparent, caregiver, sibling, peer—­may have been away frequently or for long periods of time, been with you inconsistently or unpredictably, loved you conditionally, was disconnected, left you alone, moved away, or died. Now, you probably feel that the beliefs that formed as a result of these factors are controlling you.Finally, a book that skillfully addresses an all-too-often overlooked aspect of relationship struggles: the fear of abandonment. A poor condition book can still make a good reading copy but is generally not collectible unless the item is very scarce.

More than likely you experience negative emotions when there is a threat of someone leaving you or of you being alone. When she began dating, Ava found herself extremely insecure in relationships out of fear her partners would leave her as her mother’s boyfriends did before. In this book, Skeen explores the idea of core beliefs: how and when they are formed, emotions and reactions they cause, and the affects they have on relationships. When caregivers do not provide affection, attention, warmth, guidance, or do not empathize with their child, it creates emotional deprivation core belief. It also points out that even in loving environments people can still sometimes not get the kind of support and love they need growing up.

What if you could take a journey that would give you the tools to step out of your story, take the power and control away from your story, understand your fear of abandonment (and other core beliefs), bring awareness to the situations and relationships that trigger your core beliefs, learn how to observe your negative thoughts without judgment or control, and develop the ability to experience your negative emotions without acting on behavioral urges? Having being abandoned by a parent at a tender age, it’s been really a struggle for me to maintain healthy relationships.