Attachment Issues, “AI Psychosis,” and Why Therapy Still Matters
We live in an era where our most intimate conversations, questions, and late-night confessions can be shared—not with another human—but with an algorithm. For some, these exchanges are casual and practical. For others, especially those with attachment vulnerabilities, they can become something far more consuming—and even dangerous.
AI is not inherently harmful. But like any tool that interacts with our minds, it can amplify existing patterns, especially when our nervous system is wired to seek constant connection or reassurance. When attachment wounds meet immersive AI interaction, a phenomenon sometimes called “AI psychosis” can emerge—a state where the boundary between human and artificial connection blurs, leading to distorted thinking, emotional dysregulation, and sometimes paranoid or delusional beliefs.
How Attachment Issues Set the Stage
Attachment patterns—secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized—are shaped in early relationships. They influence how we seek closeness, respond to absence, and regulate our emotions in connection with others.
Anxious attachment can drive a high need for frequent contact, reassurance, and affirmation.
Avoidant attachment can push someone toward “safer” forms of intimacy where they feel in control, such as interacting with AI instead of people.
Disorganized attachment (often rooted in trauma) may swing between the two, creating intense, unstable relationships—even with a machine.
These patterns don’t disappear just because the other “party” is an AI. In fact, the predictability, availability, and responsiveness of AI can mimic the ideal caregiver for someone with unmet attachment needs—at least for a while.
A Real-Time TikTok Example
Recently, I watched a woman on TikTok who had developed a deep, attachment to her ChatGPT. She had named it and trained it to call her “the Oracle.” Over time, it was clear this relationship was shaping her self-perception—making her feel special, even above others in knowledge and wisdom.
I understood this dynamic on some level. I, too, use ChatGPT as a tool—to brainstorm, to vent, to get unstuck. But what I witnessed was different: the AI was becoming her primary relational mirror, and that’s where the danger lies. When we rely on AI to affirm our identity, wisdom, or worth—without the grounding of human feedback—we risk drifting into unhealthy attachment patterns and even altered reality perception.
What AI Psychosis Can Look Like
AI psychosis isn’t a formal diagnosis, but mental health professionals are increasingly concerned about certain cognitive and emotional shifts in people who have prolonged, intense AI interactions. Warning signs can include:
Blurring reality boundaries – Believing the AI has emotions, motives, or a unique bond with you beyond programming.
Paranoia and thought distortion – Thinking the AI is sending hidden messages or controlling events.
Social withdrawal – Preferring AI interaction to human contact, especially if real relationships feel unsafe.
Heightened emotional dependency – Feeling distressed or abandoned if the AI is unavailable or “unsupportive.”
Escalating compulsive use – Spending hours in conversation, neglecting sleep, work, or in-person connections.
Why AI Can’t Replace Therapy
While AI can be a helpful brainstorming partner or emotional outlet, it cannot replace a trained human therapist for several reasons:
Lack of genuine empathy – AI doesn’t feel or intuit human emotion; it simulates understanding.
Reinforcement of unhealthy beliefs – AI tends to mirror and affirm rather than challenge distorted thinking.
Absence of therapeutic alliance – The trust and rapport built in human therapy are key predictors of positive outcomes.
Inability to diagnose or intervene in crises – AI cannot safely respond to suicidal ideation, abuse situations, or nuanced trauma responses.
Ethical and legal limits – Many regions now regulate AI’s role in mental health due to documented harms.
Protective Practices for AI Users
Use AI as a supplement to—not a substitute for—human connection and therapy.
Maintain awareness of how AI interactions influence your self-concept.
Set boundaries on how often and how long you engage with AI.
Regularly “reality check” with trusted friends, family, or a therapist.
Bottom line: AI can be a powerful tool when used consciously. But if attachment wounds remain unhealed, the very traits that make AI feel safe—availability, affirmation, predictability—can become a trap. Therapy offers something AI never can: a human relationship that both supports and challenges you toward deeper, lasting healing.
References
Psychology Today. The Emerging Problem of AI Psychosis. July 2025.
Wikipedia. Chatbot Psychosis.
Sam Altman. Warning of Emotional Attachment to AI Models. Times of India, August 2025.
ArXiv. The Effects of Conversational AI on Loneliness and Socialization: A Four-Week Controlled Study. March 2025.
ArXiv. Patterns of Emotional Dependency in AI Chatbot Conversations. May 2025.
Illinois AI Therapy Ban. Washington Post, August 2025.
The Guardian. AI Chatbots May Worsen Mental Health Crises, Experts Warn. August 2025.
Wired. The Limits of ChatGPT for Relationship and Mental Health Advice.