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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Traumatic bonding when it's both ways

2 replies

blackswan67 · 22/02/2020 23:44

Everything I have read (admittedly quite limited thus far) talks about an abuser and an abused. About the fact that one half of the relationship has had an abusive childhood and then linking love with abuse. Can it be both? I feel like it's both. I felt abused for years within the relationship and now I feel I am also being (emotionally) abusive. As I am writing I think it seems obvious that you both can but why can I not find anything on it? If anyone has experiences they would like to share I would really appreciate it. I don't need any advice as I already know my relationship isn't normal. I want to understand better so we can try to heal, whether that is separately or together. I don't believe together is an option but we are absolutely crazy about each other (long term relationship with long term fights) and it is just unhealthy. I want to help us both move forward and understand why we have been the way we have been. Private counselling is not an option due to lack of money.

OP posts:
lexiepuppy · 23/02/2020 06:04

Usually trauma bonding occurs with a personality disordered abuser using intermittent reinforcement to trauma bond them in the relationship.

I guess it can work for both of you if you are both abusive to each other and use the same tactics.

In an abusive relationship it is very likely that we will pick up abusive habits/techniques, sometimes they will help us in battle with the abuser.

Look up about codependency and enmeshment.

Research cluster b personality types, narcissists/psychopaths/sociopaths/borderlines/histrionics.

Also look up attachment styles.
5 love languages.

Complex PTSD which is brought on by a traumatic childhood.

Am start watching YouTube videos by relationship councillors:
Matthew Hussey
Susan Winter
Derrick Jaxn
Alex Cormont

blackswan67 · 23/02/2020 12:13

Thank you that was very informative x

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