How can someone be addicted to Love?

In many cases, love addicts experienced feelings of abandonment while growing up. It may have been their parents getting divorced, a death, or an emotionally unavailable parent. The detachment early in life forces a child to create a fantasy world in order to fill their desire for intimacy. These children can grow up to become love addicts if when they get older, they build on their early experiences and enter into a pattern of intense, fantasy-based relationships.

Love addicts are usually involved in relationships that started off intensely. They can practice obsessive behaviors, such as looking through wallets and cell phone records, driving by their house stalking partners, etc. To numb feelings, the addict will medicate with behaviors that create the feeling of escape or distraction. These behaviors can include excesses in:

• Shopping
• Computer use
• Watching TV
• Sleep
• Exercise
• Eating
• Gambling
• Unmanaged depression
• Alcohol
• Drugs

Love addiction is painful and can feel worse than a drug detox. These feelings can include:

• Feelings of pain
• Anger
• Loneliness
• Shame
• Sadness
• Despair
• Frustration
• Confusion

Recovery involves learning about reality, learning what healthy boundaries are and how to set them. It also requires showing the addict how to get their needs met appropriately and how to value themselves inside.

With support and recovery tools, there is hope! Take the first step and contact us for help.