What Is Love Addiction?
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching next week, it brings to mind the topic of Love Addiction. Love addiction is a compulsive and unhealthy preoccupation with romantic relationships, intimacy, or the idea of love, often at the expense of one’s well-being. It shares similarities with other behavioral addictions, as individuals may repeatedly seek out love, validation, or emotional intensity to cope with underlying emotional pain, insecurity, or trauma.
Signs & Symptoms of Love Addiction:
Obsessive Thoughts About Love/Romance:
Constantly fantasizing about love, relationships, or a "perfect" partner.
Difficulty being alone or feeling incomplete without a romantic partner.
Pattern of Toxic or Unhealthy Relationships:
Repeatedly getting involved in emotionally unavailable, abusive, or dysfunctional relationships.
Staying in toxic relationships due to fear of being alone.
Emotional Dependence & Fear of Abandonment:
Intense fear of rejection, abandonment, or being single.
Excessive need for reassurance and validation from a partner.
Loss of Self-Identity in Relationships:
Sacrificing personal interests, goals, or boundaries to maintain a relationship.
Feeling empty or worthless when not in a romantic relationship.
Impulsive or Risky Romantic Behaviors:
Jumping from one relationship to another quickly (relationship hopping).
Engaging in affairs or unhealthy attachments to unavailable people.
Withdrawal & Emotional Distress When Single:
Experiencing anxiety, depression, or withdrawal symptoms when not in a relationship.
Using relationships to numb emotional pain or fill a void.
Causes & Underlying Factors:
Childhood Trauma or Attachment Issues – Early abandonment, neglect, or inconsistent parental love can contribute to an excessive need for romantic validation.
Low Self-Esteem & Codependency – Seeking external love to feel worthy or complete.
Fantasy or Escapism – Using romance as a way to avoid dealing with real-life problems or emotional wounds.
Neurochemical Addiction – The brain’s reward system releases dopamine and oxytocin in romantic relationships, leading to dependency on the "high" of love.
Treatment & Recovery:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors related to love and relationships.
Attachment-Based Therapy: Addressing unresolved childhood attachment wounds that contribute to love addiction.
12-Step Programs: Groups like Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) provide support and accountability.
Building Self-Worth & Independence: Learning to find fulfillment outside of relationships and develop a strong sense of self.
Contact Bee Blissful today if you like strategies for overcoming love addiction or understanding specific aspects in more detail.
