Codependency

Codependent relationships are unbalanced relationships where one side of the relationship engages in over focusing on the needs of others to the point of caretaking and enabling.  Someone who is codependent will focus outside themselves to the extent that their own personal and emotional needs are neglected. The thoughts and actions of the caregiver revolve around other people, such as partner, children, friends or a relative. When addiction or abuse is involved, the caretaker often loses their own sense of healthy identity in order to “fix” a partner’s addictions or abusive behaviors.  Unfortunately this pattern serves to enable the problem rather than resolve it. This pattern frequently leads to feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. In therapy, the individual with codependent tendencies will learn to identify the relationship patterns, understand the emotional impact on themselves and the relationship, and acquire skills for reducing codependent behaviors. Treatment for codependent patterns can lead to healthy feelings of self worth, greater ability to take care of one’s own emotional and personal needs, and the development of healthy communication skills.