Codependency
Updated:Codependency is a complex behavioral pattern in relationships where one person excessively relies on another for approval, identity, and emotional well-being. In a codependent relationship, one partner often takes on a caretaker role, sacrificing their own needs to meet the real or perceived needs of the other. This dynamic can occur in romantic, familial, or platonic relationships and is often characterized by an imbalance of power and responsibility.
Additional Information
Codependency often develops as a coping mechanism in response to dysfunctional family dynamics or relationships involving addiction, mental illness, or emotional instability. It can manifest in various ways, including difficulty setting boundaries, a strong need for control, fear of abandonment, and a tendency to prioritize others' needs over one's own. While codependency is not a formal mental health diagnosis, it can significantly impact one's emotional well-being and ability to form healthy relationships.
Recognizing codependent patterns is the first step towards developing healthier relationship dynamics. Therapy, support groups, and self-help resources can be valuable tools for individuals working to overcome codependency and establish more balanced, fulfilling relationships.
Examples
A partner constantly sacrificing their own needs and desires to cater to their significant other's demands, even when it's detrimental to their own well-being.
An adult child taking excessive responsibility for their parent's emotional state or life choices, neglecting their own personal growth and relationships in the process.