Betrayal: Understanding the Similarities Between Betrayal Trauma and PTSD
Betrayal Trauma Therapy | Trauma Recovery | PTSD Symptoms
Experiencing trauma leaves lasting effects, regardless of the source. Whether it’s a sudden betrayal or a life-threatening event, the emotional and psychological impact can be profound. Betrayal trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are two conditions that often mirror one another in symptomology—even though their origins may differ.
This overlap is important to understand, as it sheds light on the depth of pain caused by betrayal and provides a framework for effective treatment.
What Is Betrayal Trauma?
Betrayal trauma occurs when someone you deeply depend on for emotional or relational security violates your trust. This can include:
Infidelity
Emotional manipulation
Financial betrayal
Abuse within intimate relationships
The betrayal often comes from a partner, parent, or authority figure, making it especially disorienting and painful.
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or deeply distressing event—such as war, assault, natural disaster, or severe accidents.
The American Psychiatric Association outlines five main diagnostic criteria for PTSD, which also overlap with betrayal trauma in significant ways.
The 5 Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD (and How They Relate to Betrayal Trauma)
1. Life-Threatening or Severely Distressing Event
While betrayal trauma may not involve literal death or injury, it often feels like the death of trust or the collapse of reality. Discovering a partner’s secret life, experiencing infidelity, or being deceived by someone you depend on can shatter your worldview—activating the same threat response as other traumatic events.
2. Reliving the Event
Just like PTSD, betrayal trauma can lead to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares. You may obsess over the betrayal, unable to stop replaying what happened or imagining what else might be hidden. These recurring thoughts make it hard to focus, sleep, or feel safe.
3. Avoidance
Victims of betrayal often avoid anything that reminds them of the event—certain places, people, sexual intimacy, or emotional closeness. Some may engage in numbing behaviors like overworking, overeating, or drinking to distract from emotional pain.
4. Negative Thoughts and Mood
Depression, anxiety, shame, and self-blame are common in both PTSD and betrayal trauma. You might think, “I’m not good enough,” or “I’ll never trust anyone again.” These distorted self-beliefs often lead to isolation, loss of identity, and a disconnection from previously enjoyed activities.
5. Emotional Arousal and Reactivity
Betrayal trauma survivors often become hyper-vigilant, especially in romantic relationships—monitoring phones, obsessing over timelines, and struggling with sleep or mood swings. This constant state of alarm mirrors the heightened reactivity seen in PTSD.
What These Similarities Mean for Healing
If you’ve experienced betrayal trauma and feel like you're "going crazy," you're not alone—and you're not overreacting. The emotional impact of betrayal can be as intense and destabilizing as any other form of trauma.
This similarity also means that the same proven treatment models for PTSD can be used effectively for betrayal trauma.
How Is Betrayal Trauma Treated?
Treatments like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems), somatic experiencing, and trauma-informed cognitive therapies are all effective in healing betrayal trauma. These methods work by:
Calming the nervous system
Processing traumatic memories
Restructuring harmful beliefs
Rebuilding trust and emotional resilience
Therapists trained in betrayal trauma and PTSD can guide you through recovery, helping you rebuild safety, trust, and a sense of self-worth.
You Deserve Healing and Support
Betrayal trauma is real. Its symptoms are valid, and healing is possible. Whether you’re reeling from a partner’s infidelity, emotional abandonment, or another profound betrayal, professional therapy can help you process the pain and reclaim your future.
👉 Reach out today to begin your healing journey. You are not alone.