Mental Health and Love Addiction

 Love Addiction: Awareness, Research and Resources

“Love addicts often pick partners who are emotionally unavailable because deep down, they don’t feel worthy of having a healthy, loving relationship. A love addict craves and obsesses about becoming enmeshed or ‘one’ with another human being at all costs, even if it means putting themselves in potential danger.” ― Christopher Dines

Love Addiction Research

Love Addiction

"Love addiction, also known as relationship addiction or compulsive romantic attachment, refers to a pattern of behavior in which a person becomes emotionally dependent on romantic relationships. It is characterized by an intense preoccupation with romantic fantasies, a constant need for validation and attention from a romantic partner, and a fear of being alone or abandoned.

People with love addiction often have a strong desire for romantic love and may engage in a series of short-lived, intense relationships or constantly seek out new partners to fill an emotional void. They may experience intense highs and lows in their relationships and have difficulty maintaining long-term, stable partnerships.

Love addiction can be rooted in underlying emotional issues such as low self-esteem, fear of intimacy or abandonment, or unresolved trauma from past relationships. It can also co-occur with other addictive behaviors or mental health conditions, such as substance abuse, codependency, or mood disorders.

Symptoms of love addiction may include:

• Preoccupation with romantic fantasies or daydreams.
• Constantly seeking out new romantic partners or relationships.
• Feeling a sense of desperation or emptiness when not in a relationship.
• Sacrificing personal interests, goals, or values to maintain a relationship.
• Difficulty setting boundaries or saying no in relationships.
• Fear of rejection or abandonment.
• Frequently engaging in dysfunctional relationship patterns (e.g., pursuing unavailable partners, staying in toxic relationships).
• Neglecting self-care or personal responsibilities due to excessive focus on relationships.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms or intense distress when a relationship ends.
• Inability to maintain healthy, balanced relationships.

It's important to note that love addiction is not recognized as an official diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is widely used by mental health professionals. However, the patterns and behaviors associated with love addiction can significantly impact a person's well-being and relationships.

Treatment for love addiction often involves therapy or counseling. A mental health professional can help individuals explore the underlying causes of their love addiction, develop healthier relationship patterns, and work on building self-esteem and self-worth outside of romantic relationships. Support groups and self-help resources may also be beneficial for individuals seeking recovery from love addiction.

If you or someone you know is struggling with love addiction, it is recommended to reach out to a mental health professional for an assessment and guidance on the appropriate course of treatment."(Source: ChatGPT 2023)

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