Emotional Wellbeing

Trauma bonding addiction refers to the emotional dependency and attachment abuse victims can develop towards their abusers, leading them to form profound psychological ties that are difficult to break. Also known as "traumatic bonding," this counterintuitive reaction is not the victim's fault but rather a complex, paradoxical psychological response to ongoing cycles of abuse within unequal power-dynamic relationships.

Generational trauma is essential to address because it can have severe effects on both individuals and communities. Unresolved trauma is linked to mental health issues, substance abuse, health problems, and relationship difficulties.

This article will dive into the causes and impacts of being in a relationship with someone who continually triggers your past trauma. We'll explore signs like emotional invalidation, gas-lighting, verbal assaults, and other boundary violations that tend to traumatise abuse survivors.

When a victim is recurrently abused, threatened, or manipulated by their partner, their biology responds by releasing hormones like oxytocin and cortisol. These create a trauma response and unconsciously bond the victim to their abuser. 

Trauma bonds develop due to tactics like gaslighting, intermittent reinforcement, threats, and emotional manipulation used by abusers to initiate a repeating cycle between mistreatment and kindness. This reinforcement results in victims becoming emotionally bonded and dependent on their abusers through trauma.

We all enter relationships with fundamental needs for love, affection, intimacy, trust, respect, support, passion, and understanding. When these core emotional needs are not met consistently, we feel distressed and unsatisfied.

The psychology behind trauma bonding was first explored in the 1970s by psychiatrist Lenore E. Walker, who identified that there are 7 significant stages victims go through that lead to trauma bonding with their abusers.

Recent studies have shown that unfulfilled emotional needs are associated with lower relationship quality and happiness. Partners who reported unsatisfied emotional needs were 3x more likely to separate than couples who felt their core needs were being met.

Developing Intimacy leads to increased passion, stronger emotional bonds, and more meaningful connections. While many people associate Intimacy only with sex, there are main types of Intimacy that help nurture relationships.