Amber HollingsworthRecovery Conversation Simulator, Amber's Recovery Practice Lab · Interactive learning tool trained on Amber methodoloy

Living with an Addict: The Trauma Revealed

16 Feb 2024 · 0 min

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Amber Hollingsworth explains that when a partner becomes addicted it creates an attachment trauma in the relationship. She states this can abruptly change a partner's attachment behavior, throwing them into an anxious attachment state (simultaneously fearful and clinging) even if they did not have that attachment style before—summarized by the emotional reaction, “I hate you. Don't leave me.”

When you love someone and the attachment's been fine and all of a sudden they're addicted, it causes an attachment trauma. Same as if someone cheated. So what happens is, no matter what your attached style, you lose your mind. You go crazy, like. And then you turn into like, anxious appointment, which is, I hate you. Don't leave me. Like, it's like both. It's everything. It's all the time. And that happens. Even if you didn't have that attached style to begin with, it throws you into that state.