Love addicts are usually the adults whose most special needs for acceptance, love or connection with either one or both the parents were not met during childhood. This gives a serious blow to their self-esteem in their adult life. It leads to a never-ending fear of abandonment and an underlying subconscious fear of intimacy. However, effective treatment of this addiction includes mindful practices, trauma-focused therapies and shame reduction methods which help to boost self-esteem and develop healthy relationship patterns.