Trauma Bonding: Signs You’re Trauma Bonded

Have you ever felt stuck in a relationship that makes you unhappy? You may be dealing with something called trauma bonding. Trauma bonding is a tricky and complicated thing that happens when you get attached to someone who is causing you harm.

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Trauma bonding is a complex psychological phenomenon that can be difficult to recognize, understand, and overcome. It often develops in abusive or toxic relationships, making it crucial to be aware of its signs and implications.

What is Trauma Bonding?

Trauma bonding is when someone forms a strong emotional connection with a person who hurts them. It can happen in abusive relationships and other types of relationships like with family, work, or friends.

It happens because the person causing harm sometimes acts kind and sometimes cruel. It creates a cycle where the victim feels hopeful, scared, and confused. They get stuck in this pattern and find it hard to break free from the bond.

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History of Trauma Bonding

The concept of trauma bonding is relatively recent in psychological literature, gaining recognition in the late 20th century. It was first introduced by Patrick Carnes, a renowned therapist and author, in his book The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships. Carnes described trauma bonding as a psychological connection that forms between an abused person and their abuser, creating a sense of loyalty and attachment despite the harmful and often destructive nature of the relationship.

The term "trauma bonding" was coined to help us understand the strong emotional ties that develop in abusive or traumatic situations.

Signs & Symptoms of Trauma Bonding

• Intense Loyalty: Individuals trapped in a trauma bond often exhibit unwavering loyalty to their abuser. This loyalty can be perplexing to outsiders who cannot comprehend why the victim remains committed to someone who inflicts harm.
• Cognitive Dissonance: Sufferers often experience cognitive dissonance, where their beliefs and feelings about the abuser conflict with the abuse they endure. This internal conflict can be mentally distressing.
• Isolation: Abusers may isolate their victims from friends and family, making it even more challenging for the victim to escape the toxic relationship. The isolation deepens the bond as the victim becomes more reliant on the abuser for emotional support and validation.
• Fear of Abandonment: The fear of abandonment is a significant driving force behind trauma bonding. Victims often believe they cannot survive without the abuser's presence in their lives.
• Self-Blame: Victims tend to blame themselves for the abuse, believing that they deserve it or they are the cause of the abuser's actions. This self-blame further perpetuates the trauma bond.
• Emotional Manipulation: Abusers often use manipulation tactics to maintain control over their victims. It can include love-bombing (intense affection and attention) followed by episodes of cruelty and neglect.

Also read: How to Manage Differences and Revive Your Relationship?

Stages of Trauma Bonding

Trauma bonding typically develops in several stages:

1. Idealization: At the beginning of the relationship, the abuser often idealizes the victim, showering them with love, attention, and affection. It creates a strong emotional connection and makes the victim feel valued.
2. Devaluation: After the idealization phase, the abuser's behavior begins to change. They may become critical, emotionally distant, or even abusive. This inconsistency confuses the victim, who desperately seeks to return to the idealization phase.
3. Crisis: The relationship becomes a cycle of crises, with emotional highs and lows. The victim becomes addicted to the emotional intensity of these ups and downs, further solidifying the bond.
4. Isolation: The abuser isolates the victim, cutting off their support systems and making them more dependent on the abuser for emotional connection and validation.
5. Control: The abuser exerts control over every aspect of the victim's life, making it increasingly difficult for the victim to break free.

Causes of Trauma Bonding

Understanding the underlying causes of trauma bonding is crucial for breaking free from its grasp:

• Childhood Trauma: A history of childhood abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences can increase vulnerability to trauma bonding in adulthood.
• Low Self-Esteem: Individuals with low self-esteem may be more susceptible to the tactics of abusers who prey on their insecurities.
• Unmet Emotional Needs: People who have unmet emotional needs may cling to an abusive relationship, believing that it is the only source of emotional connection available to them.
• Survival Instinct: In some cases, victims of trauma bonding may stay in abusive relationships due to a primal survival instinct, as they fear the unknown and what may happen if they leave.

Also check: Break Free From Co-Dependency In Relationships

Impact of Trauma Bonding

Trauma bonding has a significant and detrimental impact, with the most concerning consequence being the development of positive feelings towards an abuser that can compel a person to remain in an abusive situation. It can result in ongoing abuse, and in extreme cases, even lead to fatality.

Following separation from the abuser, individuals who have experienced trauma bonding may continue to suffer from various adverse effects. Their self-esteem can be significantly affected, as evidenced by a study that found these effects persisting even six months after leaving the abusive relationship.

Furthermore, trauma bonding can contribute to the onset of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It also raises the risk of perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of abuse, potentially passing on the traumatic experiences to future generations.