In a Painful & Confusing Relationship that's Addictive?

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Is your relationship a true connection or a trauma bond? A true connection usually brings emotional stability, consistency, and trust in the ability to be yourself.

[00:00:08]A trauma bond often feels emotionally intense, addictive, confusing, and a difficulty to walk away even when the relationship is hurting you. Here are some signs of a trauma bond instead of a healthy connection. You feel anxious more than secure. The relationship has extreme highs and lows. You're constantly fear losing them, upsetting them, or being abandoned by them. You excuse behavior that you would normally not ever tolerate. You feel emotionally exhausted but still deeply attached. The affection that you're getting is inconsistent and completely conditional.

[00:00:38]You feel confused, guilty, or question yourself most of the time in the relationship, and you keep chasing this great version of that person. Your self-esteem has declined since being with them because you're now walking on eggshells, addicted to a version of them that has now become wrapped up in your personal self-esteem and become a sense of your personal value, losing yourself and losing your boundaries.