The Love That Holds You Hostage: Understanding Trauma Bonds in Caregiving

You love them. You also dread their phone calls. You feel responsible for their happiness — and somehow guilty about your own. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Esther and Laurie unpack one of the most misunderstood dynamics in family caregiving: trauma bonds — the invisible emotional ties that keep adult children locked in cycles of over-giving, hoping, and self-erasure. This isn't about blame. It's about finally understanding why it's so hard to step back, even when you know you should.