Top Ten Indicators that You Show Signs of Codependency

Codependency is an excessive emotional, physical, and psychological reliance on a relationship that is dysfunctional. It is an emotional condition that can destroy a person’s happiness, career, health, and personal relationships. Research has found that codependency is generational. It is a way of relating that is learned from the family of origin. Understanding codependency, the behaviors associated with it, and where it originated is important. At the core of the codependent behavior exists the refusal to acknowledge a problem. They believe that one’s needs should be sacrificed for others, regardless of the consequences.

When was Codependency “Discovered?”

In the 1950s, substance abuse counselors for alcoholism called the alcoholic’s partner or significant other the co-alcoholic. In a short period of time, therapists began to notice certain behaviors that were similar among co-alcoholics. They also began to understand that these co-alcoholics were suffering from their own set of common problems termed codependency. Today in drug rehab centers and around the therapeutic community, the term has been expanded to include other addictions and behaviors. Those suffering from codependent behavior in relationships with someone in active drug addiction unwittingly enable them. They allow them to continue inappropriate behavior at a high cost to the codependent. The lists below reflect some of the most common characteristics displayed by those who suffer from codependency.

The origins of codependent behavior can be traced back to childhood and family of origin issues. Perhaps there was a sick person in the family who was the sole focus of everyone’s attention. Sometimes there were serious problems that tended to be “pushed under the rug.” This is an attempt to pretend that everything was fine. Children in such families learn to avoid feelings and emotions. They learn to define themselves through others’ behaviors, successes, or failures. In adulthood, codependents look for approval from others to feel good. They lack self-reflection and a solid concept of self. They are also lacking the ability to negotiate strong feelings and they seek to save others from poor choices.

Ten Signs of Codependency

1. Feeling responsible for solving others’ problems. The codependent feels the need to solve another’s problems. The codependent believes that their help is needed. They feel that the person in need cannot manage to make the right decisions or take the right actions to solve his or her own problem.
2. Offering advice to others whether it is asked for or not. The codependent jumps at the opportunity to provide “much-needed” advice. The codependent offers an endless stream of good advice regardless of whether the advice has been asked for or not.
3. Expecting others to do what the codependent says. Once advice has been given, the codependent expects the advice to be followed. Codependents often do not understand boundaries.
4. The codependent feels used and underappreciated. The codependent will expend enormous amounts of energy to take charge of another’s life. This is all under the guise of sincerely wanting to help. When the help or advice is ignored or rejected, the codependent feels angry, abused, and unappreciated.
5. Trying to please people so others will like or love the codependent. Codependents will go out of their way to please another person. They hope to receive love, approval or be accepted and liked. If the approval is not given, the codependent will feel victimized.
6. Taking everything personally. Because there are little to no boundaries, any remark, comment or action is a reflection back upon the codependent. This makes the need to feel in control paramount.
7. Feeling like a victim. Everything that happens either to the codependent or the loved one is a reflection on the codependent. Such people usually feel victimized and powerless and do not understand their role in creating their own reality.
8. Using manipulation, shame, or guilt to control others’ behavior. To get their way codependents will respond in a fashion that will force compliance by others. These tactics may be unconscious. Since everyone else’s behavior is a reflection on the codependent, it is important that the codependent feel in control.
9. Lying to themselves and making excuses for others’ bad behavior. Because codependents do not deal directly with their feelings, they develop techniques to lie to themselves about others’ behaviors. Because they feel responsible for others’ behaviors, they will rationalize and blame others for their loved one’s poor behavior or blame themselves for another’s poor behavior, seeking to maintain control.
10. Fearing rejection and being unlovable. The codependent fears that if he or she is not successful at everything, or indeed expresses his/her feelings or needs, they will be rejected. In a codependent’s way of thinking, he or she will be unlovable. A codependent does not trust others easily or share openly because he or she will be exposed.

Top Ten Questions to Ask About Codependent Behavior

1. Do you avoid confrontation?
2. Do you neglect your needs to attend to another’s first?
3. Do you accept verbal or physical abuse by others?
4. Do take responsibility for the actions of others?
5. Do you feel shame when others make mistakes?
6. Do you do more than your share at work, at home or in organizations?
7. Do you ask for help?
8. Do you need others’ validation to feel good about yourself?
9. Do you think everyone’s feelings are more important than your own?
10. Do you suffer from low self-esteem?

Many times, codependents will turn to addictive behaviors themselves to negotiate their unresolved feelings. They will use substances such as alcohol, drugs, or food to stuff their emotions. Or, they will engage in risky behaviors. When a codependent gets tangled in the web of drug addiction or alcoholism, he or she can quickly lose control. Not only will the addict’s disease progress, but the codependent’s disorder will worsen. Mental and physical well-being becomes impossible. Drug and alcohol rehab will address these issues and teach you what to look for in codependent behavior.

Looking for a treatment facility that offers a family program can help. These programs often incorporate a multi-day therapy program for the individual seeking codependency recovery. The program will also assist their family or loved ones.

Dying to Be Thin: Unhealthy Influences on Body Image Lead to Eating Disorders

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 10 million females and 1 million males suffer from an eating disorder. Individuals receive direct and indirect messages about body image throughout their lives from family, friends and the media. This has an unhealthy influence on an individual’s belief systems regarding food and eating. Some individuals develop eating disorders or dependency on drugs or weight control supplements, such as fat burners, to stay thin. Individuals may seek treatment for eating disorders and addiction at dual diagnosis treatment centers.

Influences on Body Image

• Television, models, advertising and other forms of media have given society a certain idea of what pretty “should” look like. As a result, the community is obsessed with staying fit, being within a certain range of Body Mass Indices (BMIs) and eating healthy to avoid being labeled what society views as unhealthy.

• Parents’ words are the main influence on children’s developing belief systems about self-esteem, self-confidence and body image. They can either instill a healthy or poor self-image, either intentionally or unintentionally. For example, a parent may call his or her son, “you little fatty,” meant as a term of endearment. Unfortunately, this is a critical statement that can have a negative impact on the psyche of a child and follow him into adulthood.

• Learned behaviors from observing parents, family and friends can cause an individual to be preoccupied with weight. For example, a parent may be obsessed with controlling food intake amounts or constantly stepping on the scale.  This teaches a child to be hypersensitive to eating and weight gain, which carries on through the different stages of his or her life.

• Issues of control also contribute to eating disorders. When an individual has experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse and/or neglect, he or she has been in an unhealthy power relationship. This produces issues of control because the individual is not in control of any of these forced situations. Controlling food intake is a way the individual can feel in control of something.

Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders develop over time and are a combination of unhealthy belief systems and addiction issues related to the behavior. The National Eating Disorder Association reports that Americans spend 40 billion dollars on dieting and dieting products each year. Excessively curbing food intake is a sign of possible eating issues. As a society, we encourage people to develop a fear of becoming fat or gaining any weight at all. Habits that some people develop to stay thin are:

• Skipping Meals
• Fasting
• Smoking Cigarettes
• Vomiting
• Taking Laxatives
• Taking Stimulants

Distorted body image stems from irrational fears related to body image beliefs. This pattern of thinking becomes pathological when it begins to interfere with daily activities, deteriorating physical health and/or present addiction issues.

Here are basic overviews of the two most prevalent eating disorders:

• Anorexia Nervosa
  • Restricting food intake or no food intake
  • Refusal to maintain healthy body weight
  • Continuing to believe that one is overweight despite being underweight
  • Cease of menstruation
  • Bingeing may be evident but is not the prominent feature
• Bulimia Nervosa
  • Bingeing followed by purging
  • Ability to eat abnormally large quantities in a short period of time
  • A sense of lack of control when eating
  • Overuse or misuse of laxatives, stimulants or exercise to lose weight or prevent weight gain.

Eating disorders are a form of addiction and have a cycle of abuse that perpetuates negative thoughts, negative body image, guilt, and shame. There are many underlying psychological factors present with eating disorders. It is helpful for addictive behavior to be addressed when treating an eating disorder so that an individual can learn new coping skills. New coping skills avoid exacerbating an eating disorder while an individual resolves underlying issues.

Treatment for Eating Disorders

Some individuals who suffer from eating disorders also become dependent on chemical agents and stimulant medications to help them lose weight and suppress appetite.

Side effects of stimulant abuse include:

• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts and behavior
• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Insomnia

Side effects of laxative abuse are:

• Muscle cramps
• Respiratory difficulty
• Difficulty swallowing
• Skin itching or rash
• Gastrointestinal blockage
• Confusion
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Irritability
• Unusual tiredness

Having an eating addiction or dependency on supplements may require inpatient addiction treatment. The physical health of someone who suffers from an eating disorder is already in jeopardy and the detox process should be conducted under medical supervision to ensure no further damage. Attending addiction treatment can provide an individual with therapy so he or she can reframe negative thoughts about body image, learn healthy eating habits and develop a relapse prevention plan to avoid falling back into unhealthy eating patterns and stimulant abuse.