402. Why trauma bonding feels so much like love ...

We've all heard the phrase trauma bonding, often used in jest to talk about two people who became friends after meeting in difficult circumstances. But trauma bonding is actually a psychological phenomenon which defines a relationship characterised by an abuser and their target, and a cycle that can be very hard to break out of. In this episode, we unpack the characteristics of a trauma bond, how you can identify if you might be experiencing one, and steps you can take to break away from one. We explore: What a trauma bond looks like Why trauma bonds can happen What a trauma bond ISN'T Why trauma bonds can play out in a variety of relationships How to identify if you are experiencing a trauma bond Steps you can take to move away from a trauma bond A few resources to help you if you are struggling with a trauma bond: The Attachment Project: HERE Choosing Therapy: HERE Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @ thatpsychologypodcast

You can listen to 402. Why trauma bonding feels so much like love ... online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

402. Why trauma bonding feels so much like love ... is an episode from The Psychology of your 20’s by iHeartPodcasts.

This episode is 47:56 long.

This episode was published on Apr 2, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from The Psychology of your 20’s when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.