trauma bond

How Trauma Shapes Adult Relationships (and How to Heal)

“If your relationships feel like déjà vu, there’s probably a reason.”

And no—it’s not because you keep “choosing the wrong people.” More often, it’s because unresolved trauma quietly drives your behaviors, reactions, and emotional responses inside relationships. Trauma doesn’t just affect who you date or love; it shapes how you show up, especially under stress, intimacy, or conflict. If you’ve ever thought, “What drives me keep doing this?”—you’re asking the right question.

Understanding Trauma and Trauma Bonding in Relationships

Understanding Trauma and Trauma Bonding in Relationships

Trauma bonding occurs when a person forms an intense emotional connection with someone who is abusive, manipulative, or otherwise harmful. This bond is reinforced through cycles of abuse, periods of kindness, and emotional manipulation, making it difficult for the victim to leave.