Love addiction is a real thing. Yes, we may fall in love with someone who we believe is special to us. A romantic partner is someone many of us desire.
It’s nice to be loved by someone romantically. However, it can get to be too much for someone. This guide will go over how love addiction can destroy a relationship.
Fear, anger, and insecurity are three things we can talk about regarding this. If you need more information on getting the help you need for this addiction, visit The Heights Treatment and try it out. Let’s begin with our guide down below.
What is love addiction?
Love addiction is defined as a type of behavioral addiction. Especially someone who will focus on their own romantic relationship driven by obsession. People dealing with this will often need affection (and the need can be intense).
Aside from this, they constantly crave attention and validation from their romantic partner. They can also have obsessive desires to be with their partners around the clock. They may also have thoughts about their partner when they are away from them all the time.
Love addiction is something that can lead to personal and professional problems. It can even lead to financial issues as well. Someone may be afraid of losing their romantic partner.
So they find ways to try and ‘keep’ them. They may spend money on gifts. A romantic partner may not want those gifts in particular.
Or they may lose focus on the tasks at hand, like at work. Because their thoughts are focused on their romantic partner rather than the things that truly matter, needless to say, mental and physical health issues can arise.
The most common include anxiety and depression.
What may be the cause of love addiction?
Love addiction can develop due to several factors. They may include low self-esteem, a history of trauma, or even a lack of healthy relationships throughout their life. Those who have dealt with trauma are more than likely to develop love addiction.
This can be due to the attention and affection they receive from their partner. They find it as something to cope with the emotional pain from their past. Those with low self-esteem can develop love addiction because they receive the same thing.
It can be seen as a sign of validation. More so, they can also be addicted to the positive feelings of receiving attention and affection.
What are the signs of love addiction?
There are several signs of love addiction. It’s important to know what they are if you or someone you know may be dealing with them. Let’s take a look at the following:
An intense need for affection and attention from their partner
This is one of the common signs. Someone who needs affection or attention sees this as a coping mechanism. Or, for that matter, they might have low self-esteem, and they see it as validation for themselves as a person.
Attention and affection are normal in a romantic relationship. However, the intense need for it is too much.
Unable to function or be alone without them
We’ve heard all the songs and movies about how someone can’t live without the one they love. The reality is that its fiction. Sure, our romantic partner can bring out the best in us.
However, some people can take things to an unhealthy level. Not being able to get through the day without your romantic partner can be a sign of this. Or even the inability to function.
It’s important that you and your romantic partner should have space throughout the day. You have things to do, and so do they. You may feel insecure or afraid of things.
It can be the fear that they may be cheating on you. Or it could be questions of whether or not you’re a good partner or not. You may also feel anger that you are not getting the affection or attention you crave.
Obsessive thoughts about your romantic partner when alone
Your mind thinks about them all the time. To the point where it’s an obsession. And those thoughts can become words.
When you communicate with someone, you can’t stop talking about your romantic partner. That person will soon pick up on it and know that something may not be right with you. If your conversation is dominated by the topic of your romantic partner, that’s a sure sign of love addiction.
The inability to maintain healthy relationship boundaries
Boundaries in a romantic relationship are important. You’ll want to come to a mutual understanding that you two need your space. You both may be working jobs, have personal hobbies and passions to pursue, and so on.
You both might be happy with each other when together. However, if you can’t keep or respect the boundaries of your romantic partner, it can lead to problems.
Difficulties with trust and commitment
If you have a hard time trusting your partner or are worried about if they are not committed, this is a sign of love addiction. It’s important to build trust with your romantic partner.
It’s important to be with someone who is committed to the relationship. But there’s no need to worry about it. You can live up to your end of the bargain and make the relationship work.
It is no doubt a team effort. But it’s not a team effort to forcefully push your romantic partner to do the same.
Final Thoughts
Love addiction is serious and can hurt you in so many ways. That’s why you need to get help now to overcome it. This disorder can stem from negative issues you have dealt with in the past.
The same applies to all other types of addiction that exist. You can maintain healthy romantic relationships. But it’s never a good idea to take them too far.
Get help for love addiction as soon as possible. If not, things can take a turn for the worst.