Understanding Trauma Bonding: Signs and Recovery Strategies

What is trauma bonding?

Trauma bonding is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when an abused person forms a strong emotional attachment to their abusive partner. This unhealthy emotional connection develops through repeated cycles of mistreatment, followed by occasional acts of kindness or affection, making it difficult for the victim to leave. The relationship becomes an emotional trap where the abused person craves approval from the very person causing them harm.

Trauma bonding is a survival response. The brain becomes conditioned to seek comfort from the abuser because of the intense emotional highs and lows created by the cycle of abuse. This can lead to confusion, self-blame, and deep emotional dependency. Trauma bonding is pervasive in relationships involving domestic violence, but it can also occur in toxic friendships, workplace dynamics, and even cult-like environments.

Several risk factors increase the likelihood of trauma bonding. Childhood maltreatment and attachment insecurity significantly predict traumatic bonding, even when controlling for factors such as age, gender, and romantic love. Furthermore, attachment insecurity moderates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and traumatic bonding—meaning that individuals with higher levels of attachment insecurity are more likely to develop traumatic bonds when they have experienced childhood maltreatment (Shaughnessy et al., 2023).

Recognizing these patterns is the first step to breaking trauma bonds, allowing individuals to regain control, rebuild their self-worth, and move toward healthier relationships.

7 stages of trauma bonding

The seven stages of trauma bonding describe how an abusive relationship develops and why it becomes so difficult to escape. Understanding these stages can help victims and survivors recognize the cycle and take steps toward healing.

1. Love bombing

At the start of the relationship, the abuser showers the victim with excessive love, attention, and affection. They may seem perfect—charming, caring, and deeply interested in their partner. This phase creates an intense emotional connection and makes the victim feel special, valued, and deeply desired.

2. Trust and dependency

As the relationship deepens, the victim begins to rely on the abuser for emotional support, validation, and a sense of belonging. The abuser fosters this dependence by isolating the victim from friends and family, making them feel as though they can only trust and depend on the abuser.

3. Criticism and devaluation

Once trust and emotional dependency are established, the abuser starts to break down the victim’s self-esteem. They may introduce subtle criticisms, passive-aggressive comments, or unpredictable mood swings. Over time, this escalates into more direct verbal, emotional, or physical abuse.

4. Gaslighting and control

The abuser manipulates the victim’s perception of reality, causing confusion and self-doubt. Gaslighting tactics include denying things they said or did, shifting blame onto the victim, and making the victim question their memory and judgment. This deepens the victim’s dependency on the abuser for reassurance and validation.

5. Resignation and submission

By this stage, the victim feels powerless. They may believe they deserve the mistreatment or that leaving is impossible. The abuser may use threats, guilt, or financial control to keep them trapped. The victim’s self-worth is eroded, making it harder to see a way out.

6. Emotional addiction and trauma bonding

The cycle of abuse creates an emotional rollercoaster—periods of intense pain followed by short-lived moments of affection or "making up." These moments reinforce the bond as the victim clings to the hope that the loving version of the abuser will return. The brain becomes conditioned to crave the abuser’s approval, much like an addiction.

7. Fear of leaving and repetition

Even when the victim recognizes the abuse, they may struggle to leave due to fear, guilt, or emotional dependence. They might believe they cannot survive without the abuser or that things will improve. If they do leave, the trauma bond can pull them back, leading to repeated cycles of reconciliation and further abuse.

Complications trauma bonding can lead to

Trauma bonding can cause severe emotional, psychological, and physical harm, making it difficult for victims to break free from abusive relationships. Here are some of the most common complications that can arise from trauma bonding:

Chronic anxiety and depression

When a trauma bond develops, the abused person often lives in a constant state of emotional turmoil. The unpredictability of the abusive person's behavior—alternating between cruelty and fleeting positive feelings—creates chronic stress, which can lead to persistent anxiety and depression. Victims frequently experience excessive worry, panic attacks, hopelessness, and deep sadness. The emotional instability of the relationship leaves them feeling trapped, powerless, and unable to find relief from their suffering.

Low self-esteem and self-worth issues

Trauma bonding significantly damages a person’s self-esteem. The continuous cycle of emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and criticism leads the abused person to internalize negative beliefs about themselves. Over time, they may feel unworthy of love, respect, and healthy relationships. This erosion of self-worth makes them more susceptible to further abuse as they begin to believe that mistreatment is all they deserve.

Difficulty leaving the relationship

One of the defining characteristics of trauma bonding is the overwhelming emotional attachment to the abusive person, which makes leaving the relationship incredibly difficult. Despite recognizing the toxicity of the situation, the abused person feels a powerful pull to stay due to the intense bond that has developed. They may rationalize the abuse, cling to the rare moments of kindness, or fear being alone. The trauma bond creates an illusion that the abuser is the only source of love or stability, making separation feel not just painful but impossible.

Pattern of repeated unhealthy relationships

Without intervention, trauma bonding increases the likelihood that a person will enter similar abusive relationships in the future. Because the trauma bond develops under the belief that love must be intense and conditional, the abused person may unconsciously seek out partners who exhibit similar patterns of manipulation, control, and emotional volatility. This creates a cycle where they repeatedly find themselves in toxic relationships, reinforcing their distorted view of love and attachment.

Physical and emotional exhaustion

The relentless stress caused by trauma bonding leads to both emotional and physical exhaustion. The abused person is in a constant state of hypervigilance, always anticipating the abuser’s next move. This prolonged state of distress can result in chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive issues, muscle tension, and a weakened immune system. Emotionally, they may feel drained, numb, or disconnected from reality, struggling to find the energy to take care of themselves or make decisions about their future.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Long-term exposure to an abusive relationship can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mainly when the trauma bonding occurs over an extended period. PTSD symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and difficulty trusting others. The person may experience intrusive memories of the abuse, making it difficult to move forward, even after leaving the relationship.

Substance abuse and coping mechanisms

To cope with the overwhelming emotional pain of trauma bonding, some individuals turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse. Alcohol, drugs, or other self-destructive behaviors may provide temporary relief from distress, but they ultimately contribute to further psychological and physical harm. These coping mechanisms can deepen feelings of shame, self-loathing, and helplessness, trapping the person in a cycle of self-destruction while reinforcing their belief that they are incapable of escaping their circumstances.

Signs of trauma bonding in clients

Recognizing trauma bonding in clients is crucial for helping them break free from abusive relationships and begin the healing process.

Justifying or minimizing the abuse

Clients may downplay the severity of the abuse or make excuses for the abusive person’s behavior. They might say things like, “It’s not that bad,” “They didn’t mean to hurt me,” or “They’re just stressed.” This minimization prevents them from fully acknowledging the harm being done.

Feeling overly loyal to the abuser

A trauma-bonded person often feels an intense sense of loyalty to their abuser, even when the relationship is harmful. They may defend the abusive person to friends, family, or therapists and feel guilty for considering leaving.

Difficulty leaving the relationship

Even when they recognize the toxicity of the relationship, they feel emotionally tethered to the abuser. They may express a strong fear of being alone, a belief that they can’t survive without the abuser or a deep hope that the abuser will change.

Confusion and self-blame

Clients in trauma-bonded relationships often question their judgment and blame themselves for the abuse. They might say things like, “Maybe it’s my fault,” “I should have handled it better,” or “If I just try harder, things will improve.”

Constantly seeking the abuser’s approval

The client may be preoccupied with pleasing the abuser and avoiding conflict. They might prioritize the abuser’s needs over their own, walking on eggshells to prevent triggering another cycle of mistreatment.

Feeling withdrawn or isolated

Abusers often isolate their victims from friends and family, making the victim more dependent on them. Clients may struggle to reach out for support, fearing judgment or backlash from the abuser.

Craving ‘good’ moments and ignoring the bad

The intermittent positive reinforcement in trauma bonding makes the victim focus on brief moments of kindness and affection while dismissing the ongoing mistreatment. They may cling to memories of the abuser’s “good side” and believe that the relationship can return to that phase.

Strategies to break a trauma bond

Helping your clients break a trauma bond requires patience, validation, and practical steps to regain their independence and self-worth. Because of this deep psychological hold, leaving can feel overwhelming or even impossible. Here are some strategies to help clients recognize the bond and take steps toward breaking free.

Acknowledge and validate their experience

Many trauma-bonded individuals struggle with self-doubt, questioning whether they are truly being abused or if they are overreacting. They may also feel ashamed for staying in the relationship. As a professional, your role is to provide validation. Acknowledge their feelings without judgment and reassure them that their reactions—fear, confusion, emotional attachment—are normal psychological responses to prolonged abuse.

Educate them about trauma bonding

Many clients do not understand why they feel such a strong attachment to someone who is harming them. Explaining how trauma bonding develops—through cycles of emotional abuse and intermittent reinforcement—can help them see that their feelings are not a sign of love but rather a conditioned response to abuse. Provide clear, simple explanations of the psychological and neurological mechanisms behind trauma bonding, such as how the brain becomes addicted to the highs and lows of the relationship.

Encourage them to keep a reality check journal

One of the biggest obstacles in breaking a trauma bond is the tendency to focus on the abuser’s positive moments while dismissing or minimizing the abuse. Encourage clients to keep a reality check journal, where they document specific instances of mistreatment, how they felt in those moments, and how the abuser responded when confronted. Reviewing these entries over time can help counter the emotional distortion that makes them believe the relationship is not "that bad." This practice serves as a grounding tool when they feel tempted to return to the abusive person.

Set firm boundaries

Clients must establish and maintain clear boundaries to protect themselves from further manipulation. Encourage them to implement a no-contact rule to break the cycle entirely if possible. This means blocking the abuser on all platforms, avoiding places where they might run into them, and resisting the urge to check on them.

In cases where no contact is not possible (such as co-parenting situations), work with them to establish low-contact boundaries. Reinforcing these boundaries empowers clients to regain control over their interactions and emotions.

Help them reconnect with supportive people

Abusers often isolate their victims, making them believe they have nowhere else to turn. Encourage clients to reconnect with supportive friends, family, or community groups. If they feel hesitant due to shame or fear of judgment, remind them they are not alone and that rebuilding relationships takes time. Suggest joining support groups, either in person or online, where they can find validation and encouragement from others who have experienced trauma bonding.

Main takeaways

Trauma bonding occurs when an abused person forms a strong emotional attachment to their abuser due to cycles of mistreatment and intermittent kindness, making it difficult to leave. As the trauma bond develops, the victim may justify abusive behavior and struggle with emotional dependency. Breaking this bond requires awareness, emotional detachment, firm boundaries, and support from trusted people or a mental health professional. For those in domestic violence situations, seeking help from resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be a crucial step. Healing takes time, but individuals can regain their independence and build healthier relationships with the right strategies and support.

Reference

Shaughnessy, E. V., Simons, R. M., Simons, J. S., & Freeman, H. (2023). Risk factors for traumatic bonding and associations with PTSD symptoms: A moderated mediation. Child Abuse & Neglect, 144, 106390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106390