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Psychological Disorders
Can You Be Addicted to Love? Attachment Dysregulation in the Digital Age of Ghosting
Why some love turns compulsive — and how unresolved trauma underlies obsessive relationship patterns
Love addiction isn’t just romantic hyperbole; it’s a powerful neurological response. When someone disappears, your brain doesn’t just sigh in relief — it goes into withdrawal. The sudden craving for dopamine can cause your heart to race and your mind to fixate, especially in the quiet hours of the night. For individuals with insecure attachment styles rooted in past trauma, this biological urge becomes intertwined with old emotional wounds. When a loved one fades away, your survival instincts perceive this as a threat to your existence. The obsession, inability to let go, and desperate hope aren’t signs of weakness — they’re signals from your brain saying, “You need this to survive.” Today’s digital online dating and frequent ghosting, these attachment wounds can trigger addictive patterns disguised as hopeless romantic fantasies.
Research Insights: What We Know — and What Still Feels Like a Secret
The brain imaging studies are startling: romantic obsession lights up the ventral…
