Life Works – the leading specialist in the treatment of love addiction.

The love addict is the subject of many novels and movies. They appear to have an intense need to be in a relationship at all costs. Not only must the love addict be in a relationship, they are addicted to the rush of new romance. This makes them unable to sustain the normal waning of passion that keeps couples together long-term. Love addiction is classified as a type of compulsive disorder based on relationships. It can have its roots in childhood issues like fear of abandonment, lack of attention and lack of nurturing as a young child. Relational problems can be caused by early childhood emotional traumas like rejection, isolation, lack of love and not having needs met. The child learns unhealthy ways of relating to others very early on.

Love addicts can approach relationships with unrealistic demands that cause them to experience constant fear, disappointment and dependency. Some are addicted to the initial rush of passion that a new partner provides. Once the first rush is over, they become antsy and start looking for another new sex partner. Love addicts can become highly promiscuous and are prime targets for sexually transmitted diseases. Love addicts can also have traits of unhealthy dependence in relationships. Intense fear of abandonment can lead to stalking and domestic violence. Many domestic violence cases have this disorder as their root cause.

Love addiction rehabilitation is possible. The disorder is treated the same way as codependency and works on restoring poor self esteem, fear and false self identity. Rehabilitation can uncover past trauma and heal the hidden pain that causes love addicts to view relationships as objects to fill an unmet childhood need. With the right treatment, a love addict can break free from the cycle of unhealthy relationships and learn to experience what a healthy, mature love is all about.

Do I need Love Addiction treatment?

I think I have a Love Addiction problem - How can I tell? What are Love Addiction symptoms?

Love Addiction is a very insidious form of addiction, because the symptoms are less overt than those produced by an alcohol or chemical addiction. Life as a Love Addict can be very difficult and as you feel the need to constantly please your partner in order to maintain a sense of connection you rarely get your own needs met. Emotions are likely to see-saw in response to your partners attitude, causing you to feel wonderful when you feel a sense of love and connection, only to feel to feeling depressed, agitated, or even suicidal whenever the connection lessens. For a Love Addict, falling in love becomes a way in which to sooth uncomfortable feelings and to fill an inner void in much the same way an alcoholic or drug addict relies on a substance in order to cope. Love Addiction recovery will help you address the underlying issues fuelling the unhealthy relational style that characterises love addiction.

I think I need love addiction treatment - How can Life Works help me?

Unlike chemical addiction, Love Addiction may not be detected whilst you are in a loving relationship. Often Love Addiction symptoms do not become apparent until you cease to feel loved by your partner. This will cause the Love Addict to show classic withdrawal symptoms commonly associated with the withdrawal process of drug addicts or alcoholics, such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. Love Addiction is a powerful form of self-abandonment, which often results from exposure to unhealthy relationship styles within the family of origin. The tendency for the Love Addict to make his or her own emotional state the responsibility of the loved one places the Love Addict in a powerless and dependent position resulting in low self-esteem. Our Love Addiction recovery program will incorporate cognitive re-structuring and self-esteem building exercises in order to address the underlying issues and thereby stop the addictive cycle.

How can I start Love Addiction treatment at Life Works?

Life Works offers a great love addiction recovery program that will ensure a balanced and integrated treatment plan to meet your psychological, physical and spiritual needs. As Love Addiction can be debilitating and greatly impact on your quality of life, an integral part of our treatment program involves addressing the underlying beliefs and thinking patterns that feeds your addictive behaviour. If you are suspect that you might suffer from Love Addiction on our website you will find a questionnaire that help you assess whether you are engaging in patterns of Love Addiction. Love addiction recovery is possible and whether recovery entails residential or outpatient treatment our staff is dedicated to your recovery.