Trauma Bonding

What is trauma bonding?
Trauma bonding can be defined as “emotional bonds
with an individual that arises from a recurring, cyclical pattern of abuse perpetrated by intermittent reinforcement through rewards and punishments”.

What exactly does trauma bonding look like? 
People who have experienced some sort of trauma in a relationship will begin to rely on their abuser. Some people will push away friends to stay closer to the one causing the abuse.

Trauma bonding can become very harmful because it can change you as a
person. It can make one very codependent on someone who causes them a lot of pain and therefore cause them to push away those who care about them.

Therapy is a very useful resource when it comes to dealing with trauma bonding. Trauma-informed therapists can be very helpful for those who want to address their attachment to their abuser. Therapy can help one create a safety plan, identifying how to manage distress and help with processing, and assisting the trauma survivor in becoming their true self again.