Codependency

What Is Codependency?

A person who continually places others needs before their own may be struggling with codependent behavior patterns. Codependency was first identified in the 1950s when therapists noticed that an alcoholic’s partner had a variety of enabling behaviors. They called it being a co-alcoholic. Since that time, research has identified a great deal about codependency and the term has been expanded to include other self-destructive, controlling behaviors identifiable in both the addicts and non-addicts.

A codependent must take control of others’ lives and believes that they are helping, but are actually functioning within a codependent framework. If you tell others what to do, how to do it and what to think, or you are so involved in others’ lives, you may ignore a basic reality. When you take control of another’s ability to think, or you make his or her decisions, and interfere with his or her ability to act independently, you are hurting both that person and yourself.

The chaos that you felt while in your active addiction continues when you are too involved with others’ lives around you. It is the same behavior when you were using drugs and alcohol, but now people have become your addiction. If you are still using alcohol and drugs and feel like your relationships with others are falling apart you need drug rehab. Call Recovery Connection at 866-812-8231 and speak with one of our counselors to find the best addiction treatment center that fits your needs.

Codependent Addicts

There are two ways to view an addict’s codependent behavior. First, the addict may use people-pleasing behaviors to control the environment. Second, addicts may set their expectations for others too high and then use the disappointment as an excuse to continue substance abuse.  The codependent addict is busy denying his or her own reality as well as the reality of others.

Not every addict has the same combination of traits. Generally, codependent behaviors are learned in early childhood and are the coping mechanisms for abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Addiction Treatment and Codependency

Intimacy for the codependent is tied to “doing” for someone else or controlling someone else’s thoughts, activities or feelings. Addiction treatment is necessary to help the addict break through unhealthy codependent learned behaviors and response patterns. Codependency education in drug rehab can help foster a strong, healthy sense of self, build healthy personal boundaries, identify and stop attending to another’s every need and allow the consequences of unhealthy behaviors to happen. Codependent addicts need to relearn how to place a healthy focus on themselves.

Codependents Anonymous (CODA) is an addiction support group for those who struggle with codependency. CODA is a fellowship of people who have unhealthy relationship patterns and who are seeking support and guidance to develop healthier relationships. The group format consists of daily meetings that an individual can choose from and CODA uses a 12-step approach for recovery. More information about CODA can be found at www.coda.org.

A comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment program, family addiction education workshops and family therapy are part of the treatment protocol. If you would like to enter drug rehab today call Recovery Connection at 866-812-8231.