TRAUMA BONDING

Scripted research presentation by:

Aastha Vohra
Muskan Maheshwari
Triyambika Bhardwaj
 A trauma bond is an emotional
attachment that a victim develops
towards their abuser.
TRAUMA BONDING Patrik Carnes defined it as
'dysfunctional attachments that occur
in the presence of danger, shame, or
exploitation.'
A trauma bond is created in
exploitative realtionships as a
response to the trauma
SIGNS OF A TRAUMA BOND

The need to cover up, explain or defend the relationship

Highlighting the positive
Pattern of non-performance
Repititive, destructive fights resulting in a lose-lose situation
Isolation from friends and family
Difficulty leaving the situation or the person
Sense of loyalty and validation seeking
Muted reactions to the abuse
Self-blame for the abuse
STAGES OF TRAUMA BONDING

Love bombing
Gaining trust
Criticism
Manipulation
Resignation
Distress
Repetition
 • Domestic abuse
• Incest
WHAT CAUSES
• Kidnapping
TRAUMA BONDING?
• Sexual abuse
• Cults
• Elder abuse
• Dysfunctional Family
• Human trafficking
RISK FACTORS FOR TRAUMA BONDING

Attachment insecurity
Childhood maltreatment
Exposure to abusive relationships growing up
Lack of social support
Low self-esteem
 IMPACT

Biological changes and stress Additional impacts of trauma on the

responses: brain may include:
Post-traumatic stress disorder Developing chronic illnesses
(PTSD) Panicking
Other mental illnesses Dissociation
Substance use disorders Fatigue
Changes in the limbic system Brain fog
Changes in hormones Sleep issues (i.e., nightmares,
Altered brain chemistry insomnia, etc)
Fear of recurrence
Flashbacks
Avoidance
HOW TO BREAK A TRAUMA BOND?

Identify the Trauma Bond- Journal. talk to loved ones, consider

relationship from different perspective
Communicate needs Clearly and Assertively
Validating feelings
Avoid Self-Blame
Get Out of the Relationship Safely
Grieving the Loss of the Relationship
Work With a Mental Health Professional
Reach out for Support
Get Emergency Help
TRAUMA-FOCUSED CBT

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Therapy:

Therapists employing CBT may encourage patients to re-evaluate their
thinking patterns and assumptions in order to identify unhelpful patterns in
thoughts, to more balanced and effective thinking patterns.
Exposure to the trauma narrative, cognitive coping, processing traumatic
grief, relaxation skills, emotional regulation
Dialectical behavior therapy or another stabilizing therapy approach is often
used before TF-CBT is attempted with clients who have a history of running
away and/or severe self-harm and other parasuicidal behaviors.
 CASE STUDY
Jiya, a 28 year old female has been married to her husband for 7 years. Her husband has
been emotionally and verbally abusive, and occassionally subjected her to physical abuse.
A high earner, Jiya has been forced to transfer her salary into an account controlled by
her husband. She is only given access to a small amount for her spending. She recalls
this behavior began while they were dating and has only grown worse. In the beginning,
whenever concerns about her husband were brought up by friends, she would tell them
about how he proposed to her and dotted over her. During fights, she was usually the
one to ask for forgiveness for the sake of the marriage. Curently, she vacillates between
wanting to leave the marriage and questioning whether she was causing the abuse. Her
mother has wondered out loud about Jiya's behaviour in the marriage, saying that she
was a difficult child, “clingy and needy”. She wonders if both mother and husband were
correct in their assumption that she is the problem. Lately, she is easily startled, has
difficulty managing her emotions and sleeping at night. She has also seen an increase in
her smoking behaviour.
 CASE STUDY

What are the signs of a trauma bond being displayed in the

case?
What were the risk factors that made Jiya more susceptible to
creating a trauma bond?
What is the impact of the trauma bond?
What would you do as Jiya's therapist?
THANK YOU!

By Triyambika, Muskan and Aastha.