Codependency is quite a challenge depending on the situation. Sure, maybe it doesn’t seem that bad to those who haven’t experienced it but, trust me, it can be overwhelming for the person it is directed at, as well as the person experiencing it.
For those who do not know, codependency is defined as an excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction. (That being said, not all partners are ‘ill’ or going through addiction.) People with codependency issues are normal everyday people, but they need control and are really bad with boundaries.
When it comes to codependent relationships, there are two main kinds of people dealing with it. Those who are the caretaker and those who are the dependent. The caretaker is the one who seeks out someone to care for and depends on caring for them to put meaning to their life. While the dependent is in need of someone to care for them and allows the caretaker to do just that on an extreme level.
Below you will find a list of the most common codependent habits people with this issue have. Keep in mind that you do not have to have all of them to be codependent, codependency comes in many shapes and sizes. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to things like this.
6 Habits People With Codependency Issues Almost Always Have:
1. People-Pleasing
Codependent people will go above and beyond in most cases to please the person they care about. They generally don’t even feel as if there is a choice to it. They would sacrifice their own needs in a heartbeat.
2. Low Self-Worth
Codependent people are often people who blame themselves for almost everything that happens. Even when it is something they cannot change, they still feel bad. Most of these people are actually afraid to make mistakes and are what you could call perfectionists. Their lives are governed by others, they feel as if they cannot really make their own decisions.
3. Weak Boundaries
Those who are codependent may say they won’t tolerate different things from different people, but in time they let go of that. They keep letting people push and push until their blocks fall down. These are often the people who complain about being done wrong, all the while never standing up for themselves in the first place.
4. Poor Communication
Codependent people are not usually good at saying what they mean or meaning what they say. They don’t feel like they are ever being taken seriously and find it hard to talk about themselves. They believe their opinions, for the most part, don’t matter. They do what they can to maintain control, but are merely arranging themselves over others.
5. Obsessions
Codependent people spend a lot of time thinking about other people. This is, of course, caused by their dependency and fears. They often become obsessed with mistakes they have made and worry far too much about what will come even when things on the matter are said and done. It’s like they just cannot get over their anxieties in regards to specific people or situations.
6. Overreacting
Codependent people do not react well to change. They immediately move to an intense state of fear, whether they make it known or not. It’s like their whole world might end up shattering, and it turns into exactly what I described in number 5.
Sure, not all ‘codependent’ people are as extreme as some of what I mentioned above, and the habits and symptoms, in general, can vary. When it comes to getting help for something like this, recovery is a long road. Overcoming codependency involves a lot of thinking for yourself, self-care, and cutting out people pleasing altogether. Check out the videos below for more information on codependent people.