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This stage is marked by transforming feelings of being victimized into resiliency. Partners in this stage have usually worked their own 12-step programs, and have come out the other side with a solid commitment to healing. It is helpful for families to understand that they are in no position to control their loved one nor are they in a position to get them better.

• Addiction is a disorder of the brain’s reward circuitry that erodes a person’s self-control and ability to make decisions in their own best interest.
• Emotional unavailability is a state in which an individual is unable to form or maintain meaningful relationships due to their preoccupation with drug abuse or alcohol.
• Sex addicts are notoriously good liars but once you have learned a little about them you will know what to look for and the red flags will jump out at you (see also my post “How to avoid picking an addict”).
• Very powerful feelings of anger, resentment and hopelessness can arise, as well as feelings of tremendous self-doubt.
• If they are older, like high school age, and are sophisticated enough to get the idea that the break-up has to do with something sexual, you may want to validate that in general terms.
• But what they are doing is protecting their illness, because their substance has come to seem as vital to them as air.

Are You Dating a Drug Addict?

But people and relationships aren’t substances, and they don’t have the same effects on you. The constant need for reassurance by a partner and devastation in the face of distance or disagreements too often interrupts work, self-care, and friend and family relationships. Frequently friends and family feel used for support and then pushed aside as activities are given up and responsibilities neglected in pursuit of the fix. The obsession and dramatic cycles that underscore addictive relating jeopardize connection with family and friends.

Healthy Love vs. Addiction: 10 Signs of Addictive Love

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute loving an addict for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Can compulsive sexual behavior be treated?

• Understanding your attachment style can help you identify how you expect a relationship to meet your needs.
• Ending enabling behaviors and fostering healthier relationship dynamics requires both partners to take active steps toward change.
• When you do that it can help you move forward in a positive, productive way, and also understand that you’re not alone.
• They fear judgment, confrontation, or the consequences of their addiction.

While striving to meet their partner’s needs with a sense of desperation, the partner who exhibits codependent behaviors often depends on their loved one to the extent that it can feel like a love addiction. In a healthy relationship, the ability to enjoy some “me time“ can be as valuable as your experiences together. In a codependent relationship, though, partners often only have shared friends and hobbies. Trauma, such as physical or sexual assault, is a risk factor for love addiction in the sense that trauma is a risk factor for any addiction.

When to seek professional help

The evidence indicates that people with lower levels of education have poor relationships and cannot cope with challenges and stress, thus increasing the risk of DA (Horoz et al., 2022). People with higher levels of education usually have stronger cognitive abilities and better social skills (Breit et al., 2021). We need to further examine whether the educational level significantly moderates the strength of the two. This result suggests that individuals from Eastern cultures may rely heavily on digital device use when they communicate with others, leading to higher levels of DA.

Emotional Turmoil and Codependency

Interpersonally-based fears and problematic social networking site use: The moderating role of online social support