So you’re in a relationship and things seem great… until they’re not. You start to notice that your partner never seems to be there for you when you need them, but they’re always quick to blame you for everything. Sound familiar? It might be time to consider that you’re in a trauma bond – and not in love. Here are 5 signs to look out for: 1. Your partner seems to think they’re always right (even when they’re wrong). 2. Your partner gaslights you constantly. 3. You find yourself making excuses for your partner’s behavior. 4. Your friends and family tell you to leave the relationship… but you can’t seem to do it. 5.. You feel like your life revolves around your partner, and not in a good way. If any of these sound familiar, don’t worry – there is help available. Reach out to a therapist or programs that can help with tackling this and someone who can assist you in breaking free from this unhealthy bond. Make sure to take care of yourself now let’s get into this. Here are 5 signs that you are part of a trauma bond!  

1) You can’t leave them, no matter how bad things get

Everyone has that one person, be it a significant other, family member, or friend, in their life that seems to have them under some sort of trauma bond. You know, the kind of toxic relationship where no matter how bad things get, you just can’t seem to break away? Yeah, that kind of thing isn’t easy to manage and requires a lot of strength to eventually end the cycle. But it’s definitely not impossible – you will have to put in the work. Time does not heal all wounds without getting the knowledge to go with it. If you need help with this make sure to get contact me about getting into the next Life After Living with a Narcissist or Toxic Relationship program so we can get you peace of mind again. Contact me at admin@movingbeyondyou.org with a little bit of effort and action with contacting me you’ll be rid of these relationships in no time!

2) You’re always making excuses for their behavior

Ever find yourself making excuses for someone’s bad behavior? Like, you hear yourself saying something like, “Oh I’m sure that’s not what they meant,” when you know in the back of your mind it’s exactly what they were going for. You may be suffering from a trauma bond–a phenomenon that can make a toxic relationship feel like an invaluable one. It’s important to recognize when this is happening so you can acknowledge your own concerns and establish better boundaries with friends and family. Life’s too short to waste on toxic relationships!  

3) Your friends and family have expressed concern about your relationship

When my friends and family saw who I was dating, they all expressed their concerns. At first, I thought it was because they weren’t fond of their choice of clothes, or just didn’t know the person well enough. Little did I know that I had formed a trauma bond with them! You heard me right – trauma! Thankfully, after spending some time away from this toxic relationship, I’m now able to look back and see how unhealthy it really was. And my dear friends and family were right all along — turns out, sometimes loving someone doesn’t mean you have to stay with them forever. I can love someone and know they are not good for me.

4) You feel like you’re walking on eggshells all the time

Trying to navigate life while feeling like you’re walking on eggshells all the time can be emotionally exhausting. Unfortunately, trauma bonds are real and quite common. Don’t worry though, there is hope! You can turn this situation around by focusing on self-care practices and speaking up for yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable. Who knew walking on eggshells could become something so empowering? With a little help and lots of patience, you can reclaim your confidence and start living a life without fear of accidentally damaging your hard-won relationships. The journey may not be easy, but it’s worth every step!

5) You’re more concerned with their happiness than your own

  Ah, the trauma bond. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Do you care more about someone else’s happiness than you do your own? Well it may sound altruistic but it turns out, it could also be toxic. When certain relationships lead to one party constantly worrying and taking on the burdens of their partner, it can create a trauma bond that diverges far away from health and harmony. A good way to combat this is to take some time for yourself and learn how to give yourself the same care and attention you so generously offer your friends, family or other loved ones. If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you already know you’re in a toxic relationship. But even if you didn’t know before, now you do. And knowing is the first step to change. If you can’t leave them, no matter how bad things get, take my quiz to find out if your relationship is toxic. You deserve better and I want to help you find the strength to walk away from this person who isn’t good for you.