Codependency is also known as “relationship addiction” because codependent people often form or maintain relationships that are one-sided, emotionally destructive and / or abusive. The emotional and behavioral condition of codependency affects an individual’s ability to have a healthy and mutually satisfying relationship.
Some signs indicate that you may be in a codependent relationship, if you
- Expend all of your energy or give up on yourself to take care of or meet your partner’s needs;
- Feel you are not good enough, you are unloveable or inadequate;
- Go out of your way to sacrifice yourself to accommodate your partner, or people-pleasing behaviors;
- Feel responsible for other people’s feelings and problems or blame yourself on someone else;
- Feel the need to control your partner because you need him/her to behave in a certain way;
- Because of fear and anxiety, tend to spend too much time thinking about your partner or your relationship;
- Worry that you would upset your partner and pretend you are ok with something when actually you are not;
- Feel trapped in your relationship.
Codependency is closely related to anxiety and tremendous fear of losing a relationship, but it is also reversible. Through therapy with Dr. June, you can learn skills to overcome your codependency. You do not have to be responsible to be your partner’s happiness, but you can learn to be more responsible for your own happiness.