Partners can differentiate between healthy bonding and survival-driven emotional entanglement after they have escaped from a dangerous situation.
After an intense experience together that threatens their lives, individuals may feel an emotional connection to each other. This is known as a "survival response" and occurs because the brain releases hormones like oxytocin during times of stress. When people survive such experiences, they might think they've found a strong bond with another person who helped them through it.
This type of connection isn't always healthy. It could be more about a need for safety than true love.
Healthy bonding involves mutual trust, respect, communication, and support.
A genuine emotional bond requires trustworthiness, respect, good communication skills, and support. Both partners should feel comfortable sharing their feelings, opinions, and desires openly without fear of judgment or rejection. They should also listen attentively to one another's needs, wants, and concerns. Healthy bonds are built on shared values and goals.
Survival-driven emotional entanglement often leads to unhealthy dynamics.
Unhealthy relationships involve controlling behavior, jealousy, manipulation, codependency, and emotional abuse. These types of connections are driven by fear, insecurity, and anxiety rather than genuine affection. People trapped in these relationships tend to seek validation and approval from their partner at any cost.
Partners can work towards a healthy relationship after escaping danger.
To move forward towards a stable and fulfilling relationship, partners must first recognize that what happened was not necessarily real intimacy but rather an adaptive response to stress. Then they should focus on creating healthy habits like practicing empathy, patience, understanding, active listening, and honesty.
Partners should acknowledge their feelings and discuss them honestly.
Partners must talk openly about their emotions regarding the experience. This helps prevent misunderstandings, miscommunication, resentment, and conflict later on. If they don't have enough mutual respect or trust, it might be best to go separate ways. By doing so, they can both find someone who is better suited for them.
How do partners differentiate between healthy bonding and survival-driven emotional entanglement once danger has passed?
Emotional entanglement is defined as an intense connection between two people that goes beyond just physical intimacy. It involves a deep sense of attachment, trust, and commitment towards each other. When danger has passed, partners may find themselves reeling from the effects of the trauma they experienced together. This can lead to confusion about whether their bond was based on genuine love or simply survival instincts.