Reasons Why We Become Addicted To Love

 

Love addiction is a very real issue; however, many people have never heard of it. It is a condition that is characterized by compulsive patterns in sexuality, romance, and relationships that have hurtful consequences for the addicts as well as their partners. No one can pin down the precise cause of love addiction. Many experts, however, believe that its roots can be traced back to the addict's childhood. A person's early relationship with his/her parents often plays a significant role in his/her core beliefs.

Reasons why People Become Addicted to Love

Abandonment Issues

Fear of abandonment is one of the main causes of love addiction. The feeling of loss that comes with the end of a serious relationship is extremely painful to most people. Healthy adults, however, should understand that loss is a normal part of life, and that things will get better with time. Love addicts, in contrast, are terrified of abandonment. They tend to rely on other people to make them feel happy, whole, and fulfilled. Without their object of affection and love, they feel incomplete and worthless. This is mainly due to the lack of nurturing and love from their primary caregivers during their formative years.

Childhood Trauma

People who have experienced some type of childhood trauma are often vulnerable to addictive tendencies. While some use substances such as drugs and alcohol to self--medicate painful emotions and memories, others use relationships to deal with their childhood trauma. The initial thrill of a new romance, along with the great feeling that they have finally found real love, provides them with a high that tends to relieve their painful memories, at least for a while.

Addictive Role Models

Some addicts are raised by parents who unconsciously teach them to rely on other people for their happiness. For example, a mother with a low sense of worth who goes from one man to another may inadvertently teach her child unhealthy love patterns. Each relationship is often characterized by extreme highs and lows, as well as fear of abandonment.

Although this condition may sound less harmful than other addictions, it shares several similarities. Some of the consequences of this type of addiction may include lost careers, broken marriages, child custody issues, as well as health problems such as STDs. In some cases, love addiction may lead to domestic violence, stalking, and homicide. As with other types of addiction, recovery can be challenging. However, it is possible to break the pattern and learn how to build genuinely loving relationships.

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