Movies make it difficult to believe that someone going out of their way to shower someone with all of the affection, adoration, and attention in the world could possibly a bad, or even dangerous, thing. Of course, that depends on the movie you are watching. Too often, romance movies and romantic comedies glass over the real potential for mental illness when someone is outwardly affectionate to the extreme. We can never know what kind of story someone has lived and what kind of story has inspired the behaviors they take in their lives. Innocuous as grandiose romantic gestures seem, when they are consistently over the top without any other balance of behavior in the relationship, they are a cause for concern. There are the movies which show the other side of this kind of romantic whirlwind. These movies dictate someone who has a darker side, is keeping a secret, and has the silent promise of trouble, damage, and heartbreak for the person being lavished upon. Typically, the friends and family of the person receiving all the love are worried, expressing their concern to nearly violent extents. Blinded by the light of love, of course, the recipient of the romantic typhoon turns a blind, even angry eye to the voices of reason. In the case of “love-bombing”, there is no reason left but the wild hope of reckless abandon.
Art is a reflection of life. Movies are art. Describing the act of love-bombing in an accurate way is an absolute art form because for the individuals doing the love-bombing, this kind of manipulation is an art form for them. Love-bombing is a manipulation tactic which includes grandiose displays of affection, admiration, adoration, attention, and over the top romance in a way which overshadows all other behaviors. Frequently, these relationships start off with a bang and pick up speed incredibly fast without the typical normalities of any other courtship. Love-bombing is not normal, nor is it a normal form of dating. Quickly, the romance turns from serious love to serious control and what seemed like an endless supply of love suddenly turns to an endless supply of disdain, anger, and often emotional abuse.
Sometimes when we are in the midst of trauma, we are just watching our own movie go by as a willing participant. Like an actor who doesn’t know they’re acting, we don’t have the power to press pause and change the storyline. As soon as we begin the therapeutic process of recovery, we are able to watch the movie from the outside and change the story entirely.
Everyone’s story starts before treatment. Everyone’s story changes the minute they arrive to treatment. The Guest House Ocala offers residential programming for trauma, addictions, and related mental health issues, customized to meet your unique needs. Call us today for information on life at the estate: 1-855-483-7800