In this episode of the Therapists' Take Podcast, we dive into the complex world of love addiction and limerence—two often misunderstood concepts that can deeply affect personal relationships. We’ll explore how childhood trauma plays a pivotal role in forming these patterns and, most importantly, offer hope and practical steps toward recovery. Whether you’re experiencing these struggles or supporting someone who is, this episode is packed with valuable insights and guidance.

Key Topics We’ll Cover:

1. Love Addiction: What Is It and How Does It Impact Relationships? We discuss the signs and behaviors of love addiction, how it can disrupt lives, and why it’s essential to address.


2. Limerence: The Obsession of Idealized Love. Limerence is that intense, often unreciprocated feeling of infatuation that can lead to emotional turmoil. We’ll break down how it differs from genuine love and the ways it can negatively impact mental health.


3. The Role of Childhood Trauma in Love Addiction and Limerence. Early childhood experiences shape our emotional needs and relational patterns. We’ll explore how unresolved trauma can set the stage for addictive relationships and unhealthy attachments.


4. Hope in Recovery: Healing and Moving Toward Healthy Relationships. Recovery is possible! We’ll discuss actionable strategies, therapeutic approaches, and the hope that exists for individuals recovering from love addiction and limerence.

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Take the ACEs Quiz - https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean

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References used for this episode:

• Is It Love or Limerence - https://health.clevelandclinic.org/limerence


• Limerence (Psychology Today) - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/limerence?sockid=048b00caf77f646d2f53132ef6f16547


• What Is Love Addiction (Psychology Today) - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-new-home/201902/what-is-love-addiction?msockid=048b00caf77f646d2f53132ef6f16547


• Limerence of Love Addiction (LivingWithLimerence.com) - https://livingwithlimerence.com/limerence-or-love-addiction/


• Can You Be Addicted to Love - https://health.clevelandclinic.org/addicted-to-love
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Books on Love Addiction:

Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody - https://amzn.to/3zwxu3X

Ready to Heal by Kelly McDaniel - https://amzn.to/3zqwRZL

Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel - https://amzn.to/47KJRGn

The Deepest Well (Book on ACEs Research) by Nadine Harris - https://amzn.to/47JOmkk

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Therapy Resources:

Love Addiction Therapists: https://iitap.com/search/custom.asp?id=5357

Therapist Directory: https://www.psychologytoday.com
EMDR Therapist Directory - https://www.emdria.org/find-an-emdr-therapist/

IFS Therapist Directory - https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners

Somatic Experiencing - https://directory.traumahealing.org/

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About the Hosts

Carrie and Josh are both licensed marital and family therapists (LMFT) that specialize in betrayal trauma recovery. You can read more about them and the work they do on their practice website -https://www.familysolutionsok.com.

Check out our LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/familysolutionsok
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