Codependency: Warning Signs To Check
What is Codependency?
Codependency is learned behaviour often passed down from generation to generation particularly through family socialization and interaction. Codependency is characterized by excessive emotional and psychological dependence on relationships that are usually dysfunctional.
Since codependent relationships are often ill-equipped to function adequately in settings of normal social relations, they usually damage the happiness, well-being and personal relationship of those involved. Initially, codependency in relationships was used primarily to characterize dysfunctional relationships with person with addictions, illness or chemical dependencies. Now, however, research has shown that codependency goes beyond that into generally dysfunctional relationships or families.
Signs of Codependency
There is often a problem of people refusing to acknowledge or confront the issue of codependency in families or relationships where it exists. The common thing is that people suffering from codependency often have repressed emotions and disregard their own needs. They try to feel good by looking outside themselves because they usually have low self-esteem.
Some major signs of codependency include:
A Sense of Responsibility That is Unreal:
Codependent always have a need to solve other people’s problems because their sense of value is hinged on it. Somehow, they always believe their help is needed because those they are in relationship with cannot solve their problems without them. For them, a loved one trying to solve a problem without them will most likely in disaster or not yield the best result. As a result of this mindset, they have are unreal sense of urgency about other people’s problem and often try to project fear to keep others from doing things independent of them.
People Pleasing:
Codependent people most often try to get love and approval by going out their way to please others. They will claim to have been victimized if the expected approval is not given.