If you’ve ever found yourself anxiously waiting for a text back, replaying conversations in your head, or needing constant reassurance from your partner just to feel okay, you’re not alone. This is the reality of anxious attachment — but here’s the truth: reassurance alone will never heal it.

What actually heals anxious attachment is emotional safety.

In this powerful episode of The Anxiety Recovery Podcast, I’m joined by author and coach Chris Rackliffe to uncover why emotional safety is the foundation of secure love — and why chasing words, promises, or validation will never be enough if your nervous system doesn’t feel safe.

Chris shares his own story of realizing he wasn’t emotionally safe in a relationship, what shifted when he finally found that sense of safety, and the turning point where he discovered that the body — not just the mind — holds the key to healing.

We dive into:
✨ What it actually means to lack emotional safety in a relationship (and the subtle signs you may be missing)
✨ How anxious attachment shows up in self-talk, self-criticism, and the painful belief that you’re “broken”
✨ What emotional safety looks and feels like in a healthy, secure partnership
✨ Why consistency and simple routines help retrain the nervous system to trust again
✨ The one practice you can try this week to start building safety in your body and relationships

This conversation is an invitation to stop chasing reassurance and start creating real, lasting safety — in your body, in your nervous system, and in love.

If you’re ready to break free from anxious attachment, this episode will show you the missing piece you’ve been searching for.

Connect with Chris here: https://www.instagram.com/crackliffe/

Buy Chris's book; Need No More: The Journey From Anxious to Secure Attachment: https://amzn.to/4n6fWyQ

Connect with Valerie here: https://www.instagram.com/healwithval/