Healing from Love Addiction: How Somatic Therapy Helps You Reconnect with Yourself

Struggling with the emotional highs and lows of love addiction? Discover how somatic therapy can help regulate your nervous system, ease love addiction withdrawal, and reconnect you with your sense of self.

Caught in the Storm of Love Addiction?

Do you feel like you're losing yourself in the obsession over someone else? Are you stuck in a cycle of intense longing, euphoric highs, and devastating lows that leave you emotionally drained and disconnected from your core Self?

Many people find themselves in the grip of love addiction, experiencing an overwhelming attachment to a romantic interest that feels all-consuming and uncontrollable. Initially, the emotional rollercoaster may feel intoxicating, but at times it can feel torturous, especially during love addiction withdrawal or the obsessive despair of limerence.

Fortunately, many people struggling with love addiction or relational obsession have found lasting healing, transforming not just their relationship patterns, but their entire lives. While the process isn’t easy, it invites a deep kind of courage—the kind that grows as we learn to stay with what’s uncomfortable and trust that growth is happening beneath the surface.

Each of us carries wounds, and until we have the courage to gently turn toward them, to acknowledge their presence, and offer them compassion, the inner peace we seek will continue to evade us. We will never get to know our authentic selves, the people we are meant to be. The path to healing is not always linear. Yet it’s through this brave, ongoing process of nurturing our tender places that we discover who we truly are and what ultimately gives our lives richness and meaning.

Somatic therapy can be profoundly helpful, allowing you to release the trauma responses stored in your body, develop tools to regulate your nervous system so that you can increase your window of tolerance and build resilience, connect with your body and emotions in a way that feels safe and supportive, so that you can live with more embodiment, awareness, and freedom.

What Is Love Addiction?

Love addiction is not simply being in love too much. It's a compulsive pattern of attaching to another person in a way that mirrors the brain’s response to substance addiction. Individuals with love addiction often:

     – Obsessively think about a partner or romantic interest

     – Idealize the person while ignoring red flags

     – Feel extreme anxiety or emptiness when not in contact

     – Sacrifice personal boundaries and self-worth to maintain the connection

Love addiction is often driven by early attachment wounds, unresolved trauma, and nervous system dysregulation that compel us to seek external validation or intensity to feel temporarily whole.

The Neuroscience Behind Love Addiction

Neuroscience shows us that romantic obsession and addiction share common brain pathways:

     – Dopamine, the brain’s “reward” chemical, floods our system during infatuation and attachment, creating a sense of euphoria.

     – The limbic system, which governs emotion and memory, lights up in ways nearly identical to drug addiction.

     – Withdrawal from the person can trigger stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, leading to panic, anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms.

When the attachment system is activated, especially in those with trauma or inconsistent early caregiving, the brain interprets separation not just as emotional loss but as a survival threat.

What Is Limerence?

Limerence is the obsessive, involuntary state of intense infatuation and emotional dependence that often accompanies love addiction. It involves:

     – Idealizing the person

     – Fantasizing about the relationship

     – Craving reciprocation to soothe internal anxiety

This state hijacks the nervous system and can make it feel impossible to let go, even when the relationship is unhealthy or unavailable.

Why Is It So Hard to Let Go?

When your nervous system has been conditioned to associate intensity with love, safety can feel boring or even threatening. This is especially true for individuals with trauma, codependency, or personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder or anxious-preoccupied attachment.

You might ask yourself:

     – Why do I feel so empty without this person?

     – Why do I keep going back even when I know it's not good for me?

     – Why does love feel like a drug I can’t quit?

What may seem purely psychological is often deeply rooted in the nervous system.

How Somatic Therapy Supports Recovery from Love Addiction

Somatic therapy addresses the body’s role in trauma and emotional attachment, helping you rewire your nervous system so you can access safety, connection, and self-trust without emotional chaos.

1. Regulating the Nervous System

Somatic practices, such as grounding, orienting, and resourcing, help bring the body out of fight-or-flight and into a more regulated state. This is crucial when experiencing withdrawal from an obsessive attachment.

2. Releasing Trauma Held in the Body

Using methods like Somatic Experiencing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, the body is supported in discharging the stored energy of old relational wounds, so your system no longer confuses chaos with connection.

3. Building a Felt Sense of Safety and Self

Somatic therapy helps you develop interoception (awareness of internal sensations), which builds the capacity to feel safe inside your own body, even without the presence of the person you’ve fixated on.

4. Repairing Attachment Wounds

Through attuned therapeutic relationships, you can begin to repair internal models of love, connection, and worthiness. When your body learns that it can survive, even thrive, without unhealthy attachment, true healing begins.

What Does Healing Look Like?

Healing from love addiction isn’t about becoming invulnerable to love. It’s about creating boundaries, emotional regulation, and secure attachment—so you can love freely without losing yourself.

At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we help individuals:

     – Move through love addiction withdrawal with compassion and skill

     – Use somatic tools to calm obsessive thinking and anxiety

     – Reconnect with their core values, goals, and sense of identity

     – Rewire patterns rooted in trauma and attachment wounding

     – Build relationships based on mutual respect, intimacy, and authenticity

We integrate EMDR, IFS (parts work), trauma-informed coaching, and psychoeducation to support a holistic recovery process rooted in both neuroscience and heart-centered care.

You Are Worth Reconnection

Love addiction can make you feel like your survival depends on someone else's attention, but it doesn’t. Your body holds the map back to wholeness, clarity, and connection, and somatic therapy can help you follow it.

You don’t have to remain stuck in the painful cycle of longing, obsession, and abandonment. Your system can learn to settle, and you can feel safe in yourself again.
With time and self-compassion, the body can relearn how to feel steady, connected, and whole, allowing you to experience authentic intimacy and nourishing love, starting with yourself.

At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we specialize in helping you reconnect with your body, your boundaries, and your truth. Reach out today to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with our team of top-rated relationship and addiction experts, trauma specialists, and Certified Sex Addiction Specialists. 

📞 Call us at (310) 651-8458

📱 Text us at (310) 210-7934

📩 Email us at admin@embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com

🔗 Visit us at www.embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com

👉 Check us out on Instagram @embodied_wellness_and_recovery

🌍 Explore our offerings at Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/laurendummit

🧠 References:

Fisher, H. E., Aron, A., & Brown, L. L. (2006). Romantic Love: A Mammalian Brain System for Mate Choice. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 361(1476), 2173–2186. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2006.1938

Levine, A., & Heller, R. S. (2010). Attached: The New s=Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love. TarcherPerigee.

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.

Standard EMDR vs. Attachment-Focused EMDR: Which Is Right for You?

Curious about the difference between traditional EMDR and Attachment-Focused EMDR? Learn how a more relational, somatic approach can support healing from complex trauma and early attachment wounds.

Not All EMDR Is the Same

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based treatment for trauma. But what many people don’t know is that EMDR comes in different forms.

While standard EMDR is highly effective for single-incident traumas, those with complex trauma, developmental wounds, or relational issues often benefit more from Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR)—a more flexible, intuitive, and relational approach.

What Is Standard EMDR?

Standard EMDR follows an 8-phase protocol developed by Francine Shapiro. It’s structured, manualized, and research-driven.

Best for:

     – Single-incident trauma (e.g., accidents, assaults)
    – Phobias or panic attacks
    – Grief and loss

Key features:

     – The therapist is more neutral and directive
    – Sessions focus on identifying and reprocessing traumatic memories
    – Best for clients who are emotionally stable and securely attached

This method works beautifully for many, but not all.

What Is Attachment-Focused EMDR?

Created by Dr. Laurel Parnell, Attachment-Focused EMDR modifies the standard model to support clients with early attachment trauma, emotional neglect, dissociation, or complex PTSD.

Best for:

     – Childhood emotional abuse or neglect
    – Developmental trauma

     – Disorganized or insecure attachment
    – Complex PTSD and dissociative symptoms

Key differences:

     – The therapist is actively emotionally present
     – Uses nurturing, protective, and wise figures to build internal safety
    – Incorporates somatic resources to regulate the nervous system
    – Adapts the pacing to each client’s tolerance and readiness
    – Emphasizes relational repair as a core part of healing

In short, AF-EMDR makes space for the therapeutic relationship to become a healing agent.

Why It Matters for Complex Trauma

If you’ve experienced:

     – Childhood abandonment
    – Emotional invalidation

     – Ongoing relational wounding

... then you may have learned to survive through disconnection—from your body, your feelings, and other people.

In these cases, trauma healing requires more than a protocol. It requires connection, attunement, and co-regulation—all of which are central to Attachment-Focused EMDR.

What the Science Says

Attachment-focused EMDR is grounded in interpersonal neurobiology and polyvagal theory. Research shows:

Healing happens through relationships that are safe, attuned, and emotionally present—not just intellectual insight or mechanical techniques.

When a therapist offers right-brain-to-right-brain attunement (Schore, 2009), the client’s brain begins to rewire itself for connection, trust, and safety. That’s what makes this approach so powerful.

Which Is Right for You?

If you’re relatively stable and looking to process a single, distressing event, standard EMDR may be a perfect fit.

But if you’ve experienced years of relational or developmental trauma, or you’ve struggled with feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or overwhelmed in other therapies, Attachment-Focused EMDR may be the deeper, safer path to healing.

How We Do It at Embodied Wellness & Recovery

At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we specialize in:

     – Attachment-Focused EMDR
    – Somatic trauma therapy
    – Integrative healing approaches for trauma, addiction, and intimacy issues
    – EMDR intensives for those ready to go deeper in a shorter amount of time

Whether you’re located in Los Angeles or Nashville or seeking virtual support, our team of trauma-informed clinicians will meet you with compassion, skill, and respect for your unique healing journey.

You don’t have to heal alone. We’re here to walk with you, to be your “empathetic witness.”

🪷 Learn more about our EMDR services
📅 Schedule a free 20-minute consultation with one of our top-rate EMDR providers
🌱 Explore our EMDR Intensives and Specialty Programs that Incorporate EMDR
📍 Serving Los Angeles, Nashville, and clients nationwide (via telehealth)

📞 Call us at (310) 651-8458

📱 Text us at (310) 210-7934

📩 Email us at admin@embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com

🔗 Visit us at www.embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com

👉 Check us out on Instagram @embodied_wellness_and_recovery

🌍 Explore our offerings at Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/laurendummit

References

Parnell, L. (2013). Attachment-focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma. W. W. Norton & Company.

Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.

Schore, A. N. (2009). Right-brain Affect Regulation: An Essential Mechanism of Development, Trauma, Dissociation, and Psychotherapy. The Neuropsychotherapist, 1(3), 1–13.

Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Siegel, D. J. (2012). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Stuck in Worst-Case Scenarios? Therapy Can Calm Your Anxious Brain

Constantly imagining the worst? Discover how therapy helps rewire the brain and end the cycle of catastrophic thinking. Explore neuroscience-backed strategies from the experts at Embodied Wellness and Recovery.

Rewiring Fear: How Therapy Stops Catastrophic Thinking in Its Tracks

Do you ever feel like your mind is always jumping to the worst possible outcome?

Do you spiral into worst-case scenarios when your partner doesn’t text back? Do minor problems trigger overwhelming fear? If so, you may be caught in a cycle of catastrophic thinking—a common yet painful experience, especially for those living with anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress.

At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we often hear clients say:

     – “I can’t stop obsessing about what might go wrong.”

     – “I know it doesn’t make sense, but I still feel panicked.”

     – “It feels like my brain is always preparing for disaster.”

Sound familiar? You are not alone. Even in the depths of struggle, there exists the capacity for growth, repair, and reconnection. Although the process of healing may be complex, through therapy, it is possible to calm your nervous system, challenge anxious thoughts, and create new patterns in the brain.

🧠 What Is Catastrophic Thinking?

Catastrophic thinking (also known as catastrophizing) is a type of cognitive distortion where the mind automatically leaps to the worst possible conclusion, often without evidence.

Examples include:

     – "I made a mistake at work—I'm going to get fired."

     – "My child has a cough—what if it’s something serious?"

     – "They didn’t text me back—they must be mad at me."

These thoughts feel real because they activate the brain's threat system, causing physiological symptoms like a racing heart, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating.

🌿 The Neuroscience Behind Catastrophizing

When you're caught in catastrophic thinking, the amygdala (the brain’s fear center) goes into overdrive. It hijacks the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for logic and reasoning), making it harder to access rational thought.

Over time, this pattern becomes wired into the brain through neuroplasticity. The more you catastrophize, the more easily the brain defaults to those fear-based pathways.

However, therapy helps create new neural pathways that support safety, regulation, and calm.

💡 How Therapy Helps You Interrupt the Cycle

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a gold-standard treatment for anxiety and catastrophizing. It helps you:

     – Identify and challenge distorted thoughts

     – Gather evidence for and against those thoughts

     – Replace catastrophic thinking with more balanced, grounded beliefs

This process strengthens the prefrontal cortex, improving emotional regulation and decision-making (Beck, 2011).

2. Somatic Therapy

Sometimes, the body reacts before the mind can catch up. Somatic therapy helps you tune into physical sensations and discharge stored tension. You learn how to:

     – Ground through breath and movement

     – Notice where anxiety lives in the body

     – Create a felt sense of safety

When the nervous system feels safe, catastrophic thoughts lose their grip.

3. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge. By targeting past experiences that fuel current anxiety, EMDR can reduce the intensity of fear responses and help the brain recognize that the danger is no longer present (Shapiro, 2018).

4. Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Therapies

Mindfulness-based therapy teaches you to observe thoughts without judgment. Over time, this helps reduce the reactivity and urgency that often accompany catastrophizing. You become better able to say, “This is just a thought—not a fact.”

Self-compassion practices can also soothe the inner critic that often drives catastrophic thinking, helping you respond to fear with kindness instead of panic (Neff, 2011).

📈 What Catastrophic Thinking Can Lead To (If Left Untreated)

If not addressed, chronic catastrophic thinking can contribute to:

     – Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

     – Panic attacks

     – Insomnia

     – Depression

     – Strained relationships

     – Burnout and decision paralysis

It can also keep you stuck in avoidance, preventing you from pursuing goals, setting boundaries, or enjoying meaningful connections.

❤️ You Are Not Your Thoughts

One of the most powerful shifts therapy offers is this:

You are not your thoughts. You are the awareness behind them.

When you begin to observe your thinking instead of fusing with it, you regain agency.  You can pause, reframe, and choose differently. This is the foundation of emotional freedom.

🌿 At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, We Can Help

Our integrative approach includes:

     – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

     – Somatic Experiencing and nervous system regulation

     – EMDR for trauma-related anxiety

     – Mindfulness and compassion-focused therapy

     – Relationship and attachment work to address the deeper roots of fear and insecurity

Whether you’re struggling with anxious thoughts, trauma, or relationship stress, we help you build the tools to regulate your nervous system, rewire your brain, and reclaim peace.

🔍 Start Rewiring Your Thinking Today

If you find yourself persistently anticipating the worst, it’s important to recognize that this pattern is not fixed—and change is possible.

You can learn to calm your mind, connect with your body, and respond to life with clarity and resilience.

Ready to begin?

Reach out to Embodied Wellness and Recovery to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with our team of top-rated mental health experts and somatic practitioners to begin your healing today.. Let’s work together to transform catastrophic thinking into compassionate clarity.

📱 Text us at (310) 210-7934

📩 Email us at admin@embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com

🔗 Visit us at www.embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com

👉 Check us out on Instagram @embodied_wellness_and_recovery

🌍 Explore our offerings at Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/laurendummit

📓 References

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Neff, K. (2011). Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. William Morrow.

Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.