# 402. Why trauma bonding feels so much like love ... Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-psychology-of-your-20s-4434262/402-why-trauma-bonding-feels-so-much-like-love Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-psychology-of-your-20s-4434262/402-why-trauma-bonding-feels-so-much-like-love.md Podcast: [The Psychology of your 20s](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-psychology-of-your-20s-4434262) Published: 2026-04-02T16:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://omny.fm/shows/the-psychology-of-your-20-s/402-why-trauma-bonding-feels-so-much-like-love Audio file: https://pdrl.fm/f842d9/podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/bc44988a-a82a-4291-ab8b-afdd01187fa8/90388ba8-06b5-4e1c-b116-b420008aebe6/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=39e2f432-53df-43b8-a7b9-afdd01187fc4 Processing state: processed JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-psychology-of-your-20s-4434262/episodes/402-why-trauma-bonding-feels-so-much-like-love Duration seconds: 2876 ## Resource We’ve all heard the phrase trauma bonding, often used in jest to talk about two people who became friends after meeting in difficult circumstances. But trauma bonding is actually a psychological phenomenon which defines a relationship characterised by an abuser and their target, and a cycle that can be very hard to break out of. In this episode, we unpack the characteristics of a trauma bond, how you can identify if you might be experiencing one, and steps you can take to break away from one. We explore: What a trauma bond looks like Why trauma bonds can happen What a trauma bond ISN’T Why trauma bonds can play out in a variety of relationships How to identify if you are experiencing a trauma bond Steps you can take to move away from a trauma bond A few resources to help you if you are struggling with a trauma bond:  The Attachment Project: HERE Choosing Therapy: HERE Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @ thatpsychologypodcast Subscribe on Substack: @ thepsychologyofyour20s For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com   The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-psychology-of-your-20s-4434262/episodes/402-why-trauma-bonding-feels-so-much-like-love/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-psychology-of-your-20s-4434262/402-why-trauma-bonding-feels-so-much-like-love.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.