Trauma bonding occurs when a narcissist repeats a cycle of abuse with another person which fuels a need for validation and love from the person being abused. Trauma bonding often happens in romantic relationships, however, it can also occur between colleagues, non-romantic family members, and friends.
Published: 11/25/2019 | Updated: 04/22/2026
Authored by: Leigh Shane,
Edited by: Anand Mehta, LMFT
Before discussing how trauma can cause mental illness, it is important to understand that what may be traumatic to some, may not be traumatic to others. An incident that may be deeply distressing to an individual should not be invalidated based on the personal opinion of anyone else.
Published: 07/09/2019 | Updated: 04/22/2026
Authored by: Leigh Shane,
Edited by: Anand Mehta, LMFT
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a disorder that takes root when a person experiences a traumatic event. It is one of the disorders that is commonly seen co-occurring with addiction, and over half of men who have PTSD also suffer from an addiction. PTSD has been around for as long as stress has, but it hasn’t always been called this, and it hasn’t always been formally recognized by the medical community.
Published: 02/20/2019 | Updated: 04/13/2026
Authored by: Carolina Barnum, BA
Edited by: Anand Mehta, LMFT