Repetition compulsion is a concept introduced by Freud and later expanded in trauma theory and somatic psychology. It describes the way our nervous system unconsciously seeks to resolve what was overwhelming or unfinished in childhood by repeating familiar relational patterns. This isn’t weakness, pathology, or “choosing the wrong people.” It’s a survival loop. The moment you bring awareness, boundaries, breath, or self-compassion into the pattern, you’re not just changing behavior — you’re repa