Are you really in love or just addicted to it?

Are you lost in love, or addicted to it? Discover the thin line between deep affection and unhealthy dependency in our latest video. This is a must-watch for anyone who suspects their passion might be crossing into perilous territory.

In this video, you'll explore:
- Understanding Love Addiction: Unpacking the intense, often overwhelming obsession with the idea of love, romance, and relationships.
- Love Dependency Explained: How emotional dependency in relationships can lead to a loss of personal identity and self-worth.
- The Cycle of Emotional Dependency: Identifying the patterns and behaviors that signal a shift from healthy affection to dependency.
- Breaking the Chains: Strategies for recognizing and addressing love addiction and dependency, fostering healthier relationship dynamics.

We encourage you to join the conversation and share your own experiences in the comments. Have you ever found yourself in the throes of love addiction or dependency? How did you navigate these challenging emotional landscapes?

[frances]

Definition was clear about trust = self esteem.🎉

[chicocliff]

With compassion and respect for those who are triggered by the word "love addict" I must say that I don't have any problem with it. I speak to my clients directly with deep compassion for what their experiencing. I will tell people directly, that it seems they have an unhealthy attachment to trying to feel loved. And, I would say that the experiences my clients have with trying to force others to love them, we're trying to be perfect so that they will be loved, looks very much like what people experience when they are addicted to any other thing. Now, if I started having lots of clients who were triggered by that term, I would use some other term for two The first reason is very practical, I can't go around triggering The second reason is that if something hurt someone, and they tell me they don't like it, I'll ask them what else they would like me to do because I don't want to hurt them. But, the point is that true compassion, I think comes not from the words we use and not come trying to not offend people, but by telling them the truth so that they can have an opportunity to liberate themselves.

[AnaLastra-bljf]

Very useful Terry, the pain of abandonment is very real. However calling an adult who was an abandoned child a "love addict" is a bit like victim blaming. The child's development is forever shaped by the abandonment and those are the adults that you label as problematic. It would be much more compassionate to find another language to describe the fawning and angry pursuit you describe. I like that you identify how traumatic early abandonment is and loved your guidance on how to work on one's self worth, however let's dispense of terms like "love addict" for the benefit of everyone, especially victims of abandonment.

[frances]

I felt it and thought I needed him until I found me in this moment 😢❤

[barbarabraun]

Thank you so much Terry, very useful and interesting! It is a perfect description for those of us who are love addicted, so painful and so real!!!❤

[chloehoward]

Amazing. Thank you; so profound and practical

[frances]

ID I’m 1 down and have attracted 1 up retaliation by not putting boundaries up first

[tobiasschulze]

Thanks for this and showing a core struggle that I may have missed to fully appreciate in myself. I wonder though if "love addiction" is a good term - especially for those coming from the one-down position - shame is right there again. Second it sounds to me a bit like oxygen addiction, being addicted to this seems much more on traget than most other addictions. This seems to be headed the right direction just struggeling to "breath" right. All the other addictions have the object of their craving even wrong.

[dharanyaka]

Really useful analysis - thanks.

Is there an equivalent analysis type resource or video for Walled-off Avoidants? That would be a really useful complimentary resource.

[naturemessages]

Terry, thank uou so much. You comforted me. Ive been a love addict for 20 years. Finally see it. Really want to stop. Where can I find the Relational grid assessment? Thank you!!

[LauraM-zffl]

Thank you. I find your videos very helpful. I have a question, is it possible to move on the relational grid during a relationship? I think one is not always in one grid, but might be able to use different tactics or defences to try to get what they want (disfunctionally). Love to hear your thought on that!

[frances]

Helpful analogies … “dialysis machine” 😮

[frances]

Love addiction: Turn to you to get abundance *

[bonniemccaffrey]

Thanks Terry! I have a question: what’s the difference between a one-up love addict and a narcissist?

[Mindsetolympics]

You mainly work with couples? not singles seeking a partner?

[furiosaningveryserious]

Might need a better microphone. Def gonna increase your viewership

[makemyburdenlight]

For someone who spouts a lot of anti misogyny, I'm shocked you'd use a label like "love addiction" or "love dependance" that was literally rooted in lies and misogyny 🤮🤬 Love addiction isn't real, you can't get addicted to love. There's zero evidence to back it up. Sure, they share similar chemicals as addiction but they don't share the exact same chemicals as addiction (unless you want to call bonding with a baby, exercising, etc an addiction as well ).

Whats next, are you going to spout more misogynist crap like "trauma bonding" as well? You going to start calling women codependent? C'mon. I've been sharing 2 of your books with thousands of victims because I said you were safe, and then I see this crap. 🤦‍♀️ I guess you aren't as educated or safe as I thought, what a bummer.