The Role of Attachment Injury in Addiction

How Unresolved Trauma Can Drive Addictive Behaviors

Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash

Attachment relationships provide the foundation for how we connect with others throughout our lives. When these early bonds are disrupted, it can leave lasting wounds that impact mental health and increase addiction risk. Understanding the links between attachment injury, trauma, and addiction is critical for recovery and healing.

What Is Attachment Injury and How Does It Happen?

Attachment injury refers to emotional trauma that occurs within a close relationship, often after experiences of abandonment, betrayal, or breach of trust, especially during times of heightened vulnerability or need. An injury can stem from a single traumatic event or an accumulation of wounds over time.

Common causes of attachment injuries include:

• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by a caregiver
• Neglect or lack of nurturing during childhood
• Loss of a parent or caregiver through death, divorce, or other separation
• A caregiver being emotionally unavailable or unresponsive to a child’s needs
• Disruption of a primary love relationship through infidelity, abandonment, or divorce