How to Break a Trauma Bond?

Being in a trauma bond feels like being stuck on a relationship roller coaster that you just can’t get off.

You experience a shift from warmth and love to upsetting interactions, all within a short period.

Many people suffer from trauma bonds, but the thing is, you can always break free from a trauma bond.

In the following sections, we’ll explain how to break a trauma bond and help you learn practical ways to recover your autonomy and inner peace.ng stuck on a relationship roller coaster that you just can’t get off.
You experience a shift from warmth and love to upsetting interactions, all within a short period.
Many people suffer from trauma bonds, but the thing is, you can always break free from a trauma bond.
In the following sections, we’ll explain how to break a trauma bond and help you learn practical ways to recover your autonomy and inner peace.

What is a Trauma Bond?

Before we get into the details of breaking trauma bonds, we must know what they actually are. 
A trauma bond occurs when emotional connection and pain alternate in a cycle of harmful behavior that keeps you mentally hooked.
One moment, there are bursts of kindness, and the other, there’s pain.
A trauma bond develops between people through many forms of relationships, including:

• Abusive partners.
• Family members.
• Friends. 

In breaking free from a trauma bond, you must acknowledge its presence first. 

What Are The 7 Stages of Trauma Bonding?

Knowing about the 7 stages of trauma bonding shows you the path to escape this pattern. The process of emotional attachment repeats itself and keeps you mentally bound. 
Here’s a brief overview:

1. Extreme love-bombing. This is where it all starts. The person provides unwavering affection to create an intense connection and make you believe they care about you deeply.
2. Trust and dependency. You become increasingly dependent on them emotionally while putting your faith in their attempts to build trust.
3. Criticism and gaslighting. The cracks begin to show. Abuse and manipulation surface as genuine problems appear. They start making indirect negative comments to undermine your confidence while using gaslighting tactics.
4. Control and manipulation. Your attachment to them continues while their domination over your choices and feelings intensifies.
5. Resignation. You let the bad behavior continue because the relationship switches back and forth between good and bad phases.
6. Addiction to the cycle. You become trapped by wanting more positive experiences with the person while ignoring their harmful effects on you.
7. Loss of self. Being trapped in such a partnership destroys your own identity and self-image.

Knowing about all these stages is essential to learning how to end a trauma bond and reclaim your autonomy.

How to Break a Trauma Bond

Now, onto the good part. You can entirely get rid of your trauma bond if you put in enough effort.
If you’re ready to leap, here are ways that can help in breaking a trauma bond:

1. See the relationship for what it really is.

Acknowledging the truth is essential. 
Consider how this person interacts with you at present. Their fluctuating behavior brings anxiety to you. Have you ignored their actions that hurt you? 
Recognizing the patterns enables you to start breaking trauma bonds.

2. Go no contact with them. 

Distancing yourself is necessary when conditions permit. 
Take several actions to cut ties, including ending contact through phone, or social media unfollows, and keeping away from places they visit. 
Closing contact with the person allows you to heal yourself first.

3. Build yourself a new routine.

Filling your time with activities such as:

• Exercising.
• Journaling.
• Spending time with loved ones. 

Indulging in healthy activities and hobbies will help you find your sense of identity and joy. It’s a critical step in healing from trauma bonding.

4. Learn about trauma bonding.

Understand the 7 stages of trauma bonding, starting from charm/lovebombing to manipulation, then dependency, up to resignation. 
Identifying these patterns makes them simpler to overcome. Do not use moments of intense connection to justify periods of distress.

5. Get professional help. 

Getting professional treatment from therapists who specialize in traumatic bonding treatment creates significant progress in recovery. 
A trauma bond therapist will teach you CBT or EMDR techniques, which aid in trauma recovery.

Trauma Bonds in Friendship

Yep, trauma bonds aren’t exclusive to romantic relationships. They exist in friendships, too. 
Your friend engages in regular destructive behavior followed by helpful actions. 
Distinguishing trauma bonds in your friendships helps you take steps earlier to avoid a deteriorating situation.

Signs You’re in a Trauma Bonded Relationship

How do you know if you have a trauma bond? These signs show a trauma bonded relationship.

• Your mind stays confined even if you know you should escape the abusive situation.
• You find reasons to excuse your partner’s harmful conduct.
• Leaving feels impossible because of feelings of guilt or obligation.

These signs indicate that you should work toward breaking free from this relationship. Getting past the trauma bond feels difficult at first, yet you will find it easier with helpful resources.

Healing from Trauma Bonding

It’s all about:

• Understanding the patterns.
• Giving yourself space to recover.
• Finding support. 

Self-Healing Tips

• Start journaling. Writing about emotions allows you to understand them better while observing your personal development.
• Practice mindfulness. Taking time for meditation or deep breathing exercises brings you back to the current moment so you can escape past traumatic experiences.
• Surround yourself with positivity. Construct intimate relationships with healthy people because focusing on new friendships is better than clinging to lost connections.

Breaking Trauma Bonds: Find Professional Support

Knowing how to get out of a trauma bond takes guts. You deserve to live free of emotional confusion and dependency.
Visit us at Roundbell International Service to find resources and tools to help you start living your best life today. You deserve love, respect, and freedom from emotional pain.

FAQs

Why does trauma bonding occur?
When abuse alternates between mistreatment and tender moments, trauma bonding forms. 

How do I find a trauma bond therapist near me?
Search for a therapist experienced in trauma treatment through online directories.

How to heal from trauma bonding?
One begins healing through developing awareness, followed by taking distance and establishing healthier patterns under the guidance of professional assistance.
Therapy is strongly recommended.