Trauma Bonding is a real thing. It always baffled me how people in toxic situations complain and let out a cry for help, and when eventually help comes, they get pissed and defend their abuser.
The one time I tried to help and was bashed, I let go. It had me worried, but I just assumed that it's a lot deeper than I could see and was told.
Wow, that’s truly impactful! I think it’s a kind of mental illness that corrupts people into becoming like that, and they end up being "infected" and hurting those around them.