Change begins when you ask for help
Codependency is a dysfunctional relationship dynamic where one person sacrifices their own needs and well being for someone else, often developing an unhealthy mental and emotional reliance on the other person. This type of relationship doesn’t exclusively apply to romantic partners. In fact, Codependency can occur with friends and family members. A codependent is intense in how they deal with emotional regulation, easily manipulated, and often unable to rely on oneself for stability.
Codependency is marked by a lopsided or unequal power dynamic where the giver enables the taker’s often harmful and irresponsible behavior.
Codependency can lead to love addiction.
Am I in a Codependent Relationship? What does that look like?
You have a tendency to feel guilty all the time
You feel like you’re walking on eggshells to avoid conflict with the other person
You ask permission to complete daily tasks or participate in activities
You apologize even if you’ve done nothing wrong
You feel sorry for the other person when they hurt you
You do anything for the other person, even when it makes you feel uncomfortable
You need other people to like you in order to feel good about yourself
You struggle to find time for you
You feel as though you’ve lost yourself in the relationship
You control the changes you make in your life
Symptoms for Codependency may include a disconnect from your wants and needs, unhealthy relationship patterns, negative self-worth, anxiety, and insecurity. These symptoms can worsen if left untreated.
The 5 Core Symptoms of Codependency, according to Pia Mellody
Difficulty experiencing appropriate levels of self-esteem
Difficulty setting functional boundaries
Difficulty owning our own reality
Difficulty acknowledging and meeting our own wants and needs
Difficulty experimenting and expressing our reality moderately
It’s okay to ask for help. That’s what we’re here for.
Take back your life
Codependency is sometimes referred to as relationship addiction. Someone who is codependent has an extreme focus outside themselves. Their thoughts and actions revolve around other people, oftentimes cultivating an identity around saving others.
What would treatment look like?
At Bryant Park Therapy, we would use psychotherapy to assist in healing childhood trauma, identifying and resolving emotional neglect from caregivers, nurturing emotional independence, developing self-worth, and building self-esteem from within.