It’s fairly common to find yourself in a relationship where your partner seems to be taking over the reins of your life. Major decision-making relating to almost all aspects of life fall in their hands.
At the beginning of most relationships, everything is seen through rose-colored glasses. Hence, nothing bothers you much. But, when you frequently find your needs or desires taking a back seat over someone else’s needs, then the dynamics of the relationship change very promptly. And, often to the detriment for both the parties involved.
The obvious solution to this predicament would be to get out of such a scenario. Many who suffer from codependency, also known as relationship addiction, do not end such toxic associations.
But, how can you tell if you suffer from codependency? Well, the tell-tale signs of codependency are too transparent. Let’s talk about a few.
Sure-Fire Signs Of Codependency:
- Difficulty in identifying your feelings
- Hesitancy in communicating your real emotions
- Difficulty in decision-making
- Need for other’s approval
- Lack of self-worth
- Fear of abandonment
- Extreme sense of responsibility for the action of others
- Obsessive reliance upon relationships
Now, there are far more signs that an individual suffering from codependent personality exhibits. We’ve only named a few.
That saddest part of codependency is that people who suffer from these problems rarely acknowledge that they have an issue. And, both parties involved in such a relationship may have to endure psychological, emotional as well as physical difficulties.
Thus, how can codependency be treated?
Being in a toxic relationship is neither healthy nor fulfilling. Therefore, if it’s been identified that there is codependency in the relationship, here’s what you can do:
- Seek Counseling – Talking to a mental health care provider is always a good idea. Individuals with codependency don’t know how to set boundaries for themselves, but learning to do that through therapy will improve your life and relationships.
- Consider Couples Therapy – Unfortunately, people with codependency are often attracted to narcissists or those suffering from substance abuse. You’ll find that codependency and addiction go hand-in-hand. Thus, both parties need all the help they can get. Going through couple counseling helps overcome their psychological as well as emotional conflicts together.
- Get Family And Friends To Help – Most often you find that people take over difficult situations and help out. But, these very people find asking for help to be shameful. The very first thing you need to do when going through codependency is to get your family and friends to assist you. There’s a feeling of isolation and lack of self-trust that is easily remedied with the support of loved ones.
- Carve out ‘your time.’ – People tend to give up on their own life, hobbies, and passions when they become codependent. Thus, it’s advised to take on things that help you relax and learn to even enjoy your own company.
In Conclusion
Any relationship without trust, love, or mutual respect can turn sour. So, it’s important to remember that you set clear boundaries for yourself in a relationship and stick to it. It’s only when you overstep into someone else’s space and give up on yours that you are in danger of codependency.
