Trauma bonding has become a buzzword used widely across therapy rooms, wellness communities and social media. Although the term may appear vague at first, trauma bonding actually has some serious connotations: A trauma bond is an intensely powerful relationship dynamic that's difficult to escape; according to Talkspace it often appears in abusive relationships where power and control is dominant - often using moments of kindness from an abuser as leverage against their victim in order to maintain power and control; furthermore this type of abuse uses power imbalance to force compliance from victims into believing that everything's fine when really something bad has taken place; as a result depression, feelings of inadequacy, and low self esteem are commonplace.
Trauma bonds may arise in various settings, from military contexts (Stockholm syndrome) and extremist groups, to human trafficking and human smuggling. Trauma bonds can be particularly harmful for victims who lack tools or support networks that enable them to exit an abusive relationship.
Signs that someone might be in a trauma bond include lack of emotional expression, isolation and avoiding intimate relationships. Abuse may also go undetected due to perpetrators hiding it from those around them. Victims in trauma bonds may blame themselves for abuse they suffer; making it hard for anyone else to seek help or take any sort of action against it. If this applies to you or someone you know, find an experienced trauma-informed therapist. BetterHelp offers services designed to connect you with licensed, compassionate professionals for assistance.
