Relationship Addiction
The Hard Truth About Relationship Addiction
We use the term "addicted to love" as a joke, but being plagued with a relationship addiction is no laughing matter and it is a fairly common problem. While you won't get a diagnosis of relationship addiction from a doctor, being addicted to a relationship can be the root cause of some of society's worst problems. Things like stalking, rape, domestic abuse, suicide, murder and other crimes of passion can frequently be traced back to a case of relationship addiction.
The word addiction is usually associated with drugs and alcohol, but the description of this affliction can be applied to people as well. An addiction is something that negatively affects a person's life, something that they can't give up on their own and something that can interfere with social interactions, family connections, job performance and financial status. All of these circumstances can happen when a person is embroiled in a toxic relationship.
A healthy relationship should be a positive experience for both parties. While there is no perfect relationship and they all need work and compromise, a relationship should not continually cause stress and anxiety in a person's life. There are some very obvious signs that a person may be attached to an addictive relationship:
• Secretiveness. If you cannot be honest about a relationship for whatever reason, it is on the wrong path and will always lead to misery. Always.
• Drama. Every life has a bit of the dramatic woven in, but when award-winning acts are the norm instead of the exception there could be a problem waiting in the wings. Many theatrics in a relationship are signs that things are not working out and you should move on. If a person is addicted to what they want the relationship to be, however, they rarely heed that warning and can wind up in dangerous territory.
• Trust Issues. A relationship addict will have problems trusting their partner no matter what the situation. Since they have a warped view of the relationship, they will also have a distorted view of the other person's actions.
• Obsession and Possession. When someone becomes addicted to a relationship, they will almost always exhibit both obsessive and possessive behaviors. This can be seen in unreasonable requests, frequent misunderstandings and the inability to share the person with others, including family members.
Being involved in an addictive relationship is like a slow poison. It gradually seeps into every area of your life, and if left unchecked, it can totally destroy you. The best way to escape relationship addiction is by cutting it off before it gets too serious. Just like other types of addiction, addictive relationships that are allowed to fester often require the help of a therapist and strong social support network to get over.