Love is a deep and complex emotion characterized by care, compassion, attachment and a strong feeling of affection toward someone or something. It involves a healthy preoccupation with romantic relationships, often characterized by compulsive behaviors and emotional distress when separated from a partner.
People facing love addiction have several ways of showing up in such unions. Susan Peabody, known for her writings on love addiction cites 4 main types of love addicts. Obsessed/obsessive love addicts, codependent love addicts, narcissistic love addicts and ambivalent love addicts.
Obsessed love addicts struggle with detaching from partners—even if the relationship is no longer healthy, or the partner is emotionally distant. Codependent love addicts can look for worth in their relationships and may give to the point of exhaustion or connect with partners who have addictions or are emotionally unavailable wanting to “fix” their partner.
Narcissistic love addicts place themselves in a position of power in their relationships. They exploit the partner, using them for a source of attention, ego-boosting, servitude, and more. Ambivalent love addicts can function as the one who holds on to past loves, engages in one-sided relationships (unrequited love), and can sabotage their relationships.
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Constantly thinking about the person, even when it's not appropriate or healthy. Ignoring personal needs, hobbies and social connections outside of the relationship. Engaging in excessive or unhealthy behaviors to maintain the relationship e.g. Constantly pursuing the partner or idealizing a toxic relationship.
Experiencing anxiety, depression or withdrawal symptoms. Difficulty and uncomfortable when being alone. Some do neglect other important aspects of life school, family and work for the sake of their relationship. Low self-esteem and reliance on the partner for validation.
Causes
Abuse, neglect, abandonment can lead to fear of unhealthy relationship patterns during adulthood. Feeling low self-esteem may seek validation of emotional fulfillment through romantic relationships. Being a way of coping with feelings of loneliness and emotional distress. Exposure to addition behaviors.
Treatment
Seeking for the support groups like Love Addicts Anonymous which provide safe space for sharing their experiences. Family therapy helps address family dynamics and communication patterns. Psychotherapy helps individuals identify and address the underlying. Engaging in self-care activities. Medication may be used in chronic cases.
Cases
Russell brand a comedian has shared his struggles with addiction issues concerning love. Kelsey Grammer, an actor, spoke about his pattern of unhealthy attachment in romantic relationships. Sara a 32-year-old professional felt an intense fear of being alone. Her friends noticed she prioritized her romantic interests over her career and personal goals. She was left feeling empty after being abandoned and began attending therapy to address her fear of abandonment.
As the society of today, we have handled the problem into our hand and help the young people against love addiction cases to reduce the number of cases. This may reduce the number of death cases among the youth as many do end up killing one another.
Many of the people who have this psychological problem are judged by the community instead of building their esteem to help them, so do end up getting injured in the universities especially. Support is needed to build a better future for the youth.
