What Is Codependency?
Codependency in a relationship occurs when individuals become mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually dependent on each other. Such relationships can form between romantic partners, family members, or friends.
While it’s healthy to depend on friends and loved ones, excessive reliance can lead to dysfunctional relationship patterns.
This kind of dependence is often seen in relationships where one person has an addiction, such as to alcohol or other substances.1 The term “codependency” originated from the field of chemical dependency.
“The term was originally coined in the 1950s, in the context of Alcoholics Anonymous” explains Dr. Renee Exelbert, a licensed psychologist and author based in New York, “to support partners of individuals who abused substances, and who were entwined in the toxic lives of those they cared for.”
Codependency is not a clinical diagnosis or formally categorized personality disorder on its own. Generally speaking, it incorporates aspects of attachment style patterns developed in early childhood. Codependency can also overlap with other person
Key Take-a-way
- Codependency refers to a relationship in which one partner focuses so much on the other partner’s needs that they neglect their own well-being.
- Signs of codependency include feeling like you have to walk on eggshells and always putting others’ needs before your own.
- To overcome codependency, focus on self-awareness and learn to say “no” confidently.
