The Addictive Cycle of Abuse
Understanding Traumatic Bonding
Traumatic bonding is something that occurs in victims of abusive relationships, and is the reason so many women stay or end up going back to their abuser. Traumatic bonding is caused by a cycle of abuse. When abused mentally or physically, our body’s survival instincts kick in and release “endogenous opioids,” endogenous opioids being naturally made opioids that are released into your body to numb/relieve severe emotional and physical pain that would cause your body distress. To put this numbing-suppressing-pain relieving-analgesia-chemical release into perspective for you—opioids are what morphine and heroin are made of. So when you have experienced enough abuse, your body naturally shields itself from the pain, and you no longer care or feel the pain of your abuser’s actions.