Many love addicts suffer from trauma or childhood abandonment issues. Because these bonds were never properly formed or were prematurely cut off, an individual does not have a sense of secure attachment within him or herself and feels compelled to seek one out elsewhere. The obsession with unavailable people is often a replaying of a familiar yet painful relationship within one’s family of origin. In addition, love and romance addicts have chosen dysfunctional relationship patterns as a “drug of choice” by which to blunt or dull boredom, psychological pain, depression, fears of abandonment and/or low self esteem. Left untreated, like the chemical addictions, love and romance addiction will progress and worsen over time. A preoccupation with fantasy leads to altogether real life consequences, such as the loss of meaningful relationships (both romantic and platonic), loss of job, financial difficulties and poor physical health.