Many individuals mistake abuse for love. Unfortunately, abusive relationships are common in the U.S., and many men and women feel trapped in them. People in these relationships may experience emotional, physical, sexual, mental, or verbal abuse. While there are numerous treatments for PTSD and anxiety, there are fewer treatments available for trauma bonding because it’s not as publicly recognized. Not many people know what trauma bonding is, let alone when someone shows signs of a trauma bond.
At Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, we know the dangers of trauma bonding and provide treatment for men and women who are struggling to manage the aftermath of a traumatic experience. Individuals who show trauma bonding signs can recover in programs like our trauma recovery treatment.
What Is Trauma Bonding?
Although trauma bonding is not as well-known as PTSD or anxiety, it’s still a common coping mechanism for individuals who are in the midst of or have suffered through a traumatic experience. Trauma bonding refers to the development of an unhealthy attachment to someone as a result of repeated abuse or traumatic experiences. The victim eventually normalizes this pattern of abuse in relationships, creating a learned behavior. This learned behavior will eventually have a negative impact on the person’s future relationships and convince them that abuse is a normal, or even necessary, part of love.
Signs of Trauma Bonding
Trauma bonding signs are often subtle and can be easily missed. Victims of abuse will often hide what’s happening out of shame, guilt, or embarrassment. Sadly, many individuals suffer from trauma bonding for years before getting help.
Signs of trauma bonding include:
- Making excuses for your abuser’s behavior
- Believing you deserve abuse
- Feeling inferior
- Believing you can change your abuser
- Wanting to leave but feeling afraid or unable to do so
- Being in a relationship you wouldn’t want your loved ones to be in
- Trying to get back to the beginning of the relationship when things were loving
- Hiding the abuse from your loved ones
- Isolating yourself from your friends and family
Individuals trapped in the snare of trauma bonding often associate abuse with love. Our team has witnessed how trauma can negatively impact a person’s life when it’s ignored or left untreated. If you or someone you know are struggling to overcome the effects of a traumatic experience or are showing trauma bonding signs, we advise you to receive recovery treatment with us. With programs like our depression recovery treatment, we can help you or a loved one recover from trauma by targeting it at its source.
Many men and women who are suffering because of trauma bonding may feel as if they’re unable to leave the situation they’re in regardless of the risks. They may even blame themselves and believe they’re deserving of the abuse. As a rehab facility in Florida, we want to make it clear that no one is deserving of any form of abuse, and those who have fallen victim to trauma bonding are not alone. We provide various programs that can effectively treat the emotional and mental effects of a traumatic experience.
If you or someone you know requires trauma recovery treatment, get help now. Call us at 561-220-3981 to begin the journey to a happier and healthier life.
