Codependents have a significantly greater desire to save others or are drawn to persons who have drug abuse-related illnesses, addictive personalities, are emotionally unavailable, or have been emotionally wounded.
Codependency is defined by Psychology Today as “a phrase used to characterise a relationship in which one is claimed to support, perpetuate, or enable a loved one’s reckless or harmful conduct by being loving, highly functioning, and helpful.” While caring for or assisting a loved one appears to be nice and acceptable, codependent persons might engage into relationships with abusive people or those who are addicted.
What Is Codependency
Some codependents may believe that taking care of those in need provides them a sense of value, and they may feel safe as a result of the affirmation that such connections provide. Furthermore, codependents may be driven by a lack of self-love, wanting to be reciprocated with the love they pour into others.
Codependency And Addiction like many other forms of difficult relationship dynamics, can have its roots in dysfunctional childhood. Perhaps youngsters learnt that their sole worth was determined by how much they provided to others or received attention while they were with relatives in times of need.
How Does Codependency Appear?
Martyrdom, anger, frustration, and inadequate boundaries are all symptoms of codependency. As a result, codependency has different characteristics and behaviours. A codependent person is often identified by a combination of the following characteristics:
- Getting irritated when others try to set boundaries.
- Feeling as if you must give in to your partner’s demands or they will go.
- Inability to establish boundaries or express demands in a relationship.
- Manipulation of others to take care of them.
- Justifying bad behaviour or a lack of accountability.
- Taking advantage of others who are concerned about the codependent’s well-being.
- Relationship denial.
- Relationships with low self-esteem.
- Making oneself accountable for other people’s troubles.
- Attempts to exert control over others.
- Anxiety or sadness as a result of relationship issues
