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Recognizing and Overcoming Codependency

Codependent relationships are one-sided, unhealthy relationships where one person is highly or completely dependent on another person to meet their emotional and self-esteem needs. At the same time, they enable the other person in the relationship to maintain self-destructive behaviors, such as alcohol or drug abuse. recognizing and overcoming codependency

Codependency Serves a Need

Codependent behaviors are normal to the extent it’s natural to want to help people we care about when we see them hurting. This holds true whether our loved one is struggling with addiction, gambling, mental health disorders, or other conditions. Codependency is unhealthy because it takes these “helping” behaviors to an extreme. Our need to help gets tangled up with our own unhealthy need to control or “save” others. The result is dysfunctional codependent relationship patterns. We begin getting our sense of identity from the role we play in our loved one’s life. According to Melody Beattie, author and thought leader on codependency, there are two primary behaviors that emerge from codependency:

  1. Trying to control other people’s behaviors: We may try to control a loved one’s actions with incentives or consequences to get them to change what they’re doing.
  2. Taking care of people as a result of their behaviors — We may also try to help our loved ones by attempting to minimize the impact or consequences of their destructive behaviors.

These are two of the ways that codependent people meet their needs for self-esteem and self-worth. Codependency negatively impacts all the people involved in the relationship(s) because it maintains a detrimental dynamic. The codependent get their emotional needs met in unhealthy ways while enabling the addicted loved one to continue getting their needs met by misusing substances. The negative codependency dynamic is further complicated because the codependent is often blinded by their belief that they are loving, helping, or saving their loved ones. They can’t see how their behaviors are serving their own needs to the detriment of their loved ones. Further, the substance user who is functioning within the active disease of addiction will manipulate the codependent in order to satisfy their needs created by their substance use disorder.

Recognizing and Overcoming Codependency

In Beattie’s book, The New Codependency, she defines codependency as when a person (codependent person) has let another person’s behavior affect him or her and is obsessed with controlling that person’s behavior. People who are codependent struggle with the following issues:

  • Low self-esteem
  • Poor boundaries
  • Emotional reactivity — intense, uncontrollable emotions
  • A need to control others
  • Dysfunctional communication — trouble expressing one’s thoughts, needs, and feelings, or not expressing needs for fear of “rocking the boat.”
  • Dependency — needing others to feel good; always needing to be in a relationship; fear of abandonment
  • Denial — denial of one’s own feelings, or denial that one has a problem, i.e., the other person is “the problem.”
  • Intimacy issues — difficulty having open, honest, close relationships and explaining one’s needs

Ways to Disengage From Codependence

Below are ways you can practice disengaging from codependency and practicing good self-care:

  • Caretaking vs. Self-Care: Instead of “always being there” for your loved one, focus on yourself. Balance the time and energy you spend on your relationship with time spent on you.
  • Saving vs. Empowering: Rather than saving or rescuing your loved one, empower them. They need to face the consequences of their actions and solve their own problems. Encourage them to do so. It will force them to learn new skills to help them develop self-esteem and independence.
  • People-Pleasing vs. Building Self-Esteem: People-pleasing is a passive form of manipulation. Instead of being a people-pleaser, figure out what makes you feel good and pleased with yourself. This may include helping others as long as it is in balance and only one of many ways you feel good about yourself.
  • “Yes” Person vs. Honest Communication: Similar to the people-pleaser, the yes person is engaging in passive manipulation. This is partly due to difficulty communicating one’s true, authentic thoughts and feelings and a need to control the other person. Rather than attempting to feed your self-esteem and gain control by being a yes person, work on finding your authentic voice. An honest expression of your truth is vital to breaking free of codependent relationships and helping you and your loved one live happy, fulfilling lives, free of addiction.

Some other resources you should consider:

  • Individual therapy can help you address the underlying reasons behind codependent behavior.
  • If your loved one is in treatment for addiction, attending family therapy and family programs can help you learn healthy ways to support them (and yourself) in recovery.
  • Support groups can provide support from people who share similar struggles.
  • There are also several online resources and self-help books on codependency.

Recognizing and Overcoming Codependency at The Ranch PA

At The Ranch PA, our experienced experts like Jack Gilbert, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services know what it takes to recognize and overcome codependency. Recovery means addressing not just an individual’s substance use disorder but the reasons behind their use. This is what makes treatment programs like dual diagnosis so valuable. Knowing this, The Ranch PA offers a variety of other treatments and therapies to set up clients for a lasting recovery like:

Explore our options and find what will work for you by contacting us today at 717.969.9126.

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