What Are Some Types of Codependent Relationships?
Consider the following.
You fear rejection.
You worry about disappointing your partner.
You will drop everything to spend time with your partner.
You've lost interest in other areas of your life besides your relationship.
You're constantly worried and thinking about your partner and their problems over your own.
You don't feel happy unless you know your partner is.
If you feel multiple of these apply to you, it could indicate that you are in a codependent relationship.
Let's look at some of the different types of codependent relationships and get a better idea of what it means to be codependent.
What is a Codependent Relationship?
Before we dive into the different types of codependent relationships, let's learn more about what that means exactly.
In healthy relationships, there's a balance between the partners. A codependent relationship tends to have an imbalance of power. Typically, one person in the relationship will put in more time, energy, and effort compared to the other person.
It's great if you want to make your partner happy. If that drive reached unhealthy levels, it can make you lose sight of yourself, as well as your own wants, needs, and desires along the way.
A codependent relationship can happen in any type of relationship, including those of friends, family, lovers, and coworkers.
What Are Some Types of Codependent Relationships?
Addiction
One of the most common types of codependent relationships is those involving addiction. Codependency and addiction actually go hand in hand.
The one using and abusing drugs and alcohol has an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Often, their families or other close loved ones can form a relationship addiction, or codependency, as a way for them to cope.
The codependent party will start to take responsibility for the addict, place the addict's feelings above their own, and may actually enable the actions of the addicted individual.
Abuse
Emotional and physical abuse play a huge role in codependent relationships as well. The desire to be wanted and needed is huge for someone that may have experienced abuse in the past or present.
Abuse can leave an individual with a decreased sense of self-worth and value. In order to feel wanted and needed, an abused individual may enter or continue a codependent relationship.
Individuals experiencing abuse usually fall into a pattern. The abuse will happen, but they'll start to believe it wasn't that bad or it won't happen again, which will cause them to stay in the unhealthy relationship and continue to repeat the cycle.
Fear
Unlike codependent relationships caused by addiction or abuse, a codependent relationship based on fear is caused by insecurity instead of suffering.
People-pleasers or individuals that aim to make other people happy above themselves or a form of a higher power can experience codependent tendencies.
What Are the Treatment Options for Codependent Relationships?
An individual therapy session over a couples therapy session may be more beneficial to someone struggling with a codependent relationship. The time alone during the session will help the individual explore their own feelings, thoughts, and emotions outside of the relationship.
Being able to find a way to separate yourself and your relationship is crucial if you're struggling with being codependent. Aim to find a hobby or something you enjoy doing outside of the time you spend with your partner. If you're not set on a certain hobby or activity, try spending time with your loved ones or people that support you in your life like family or friends.
If you or someone you love is struggling or you're interested in making another relationship in your life healthier, reach out to me today for a consultation for codependency counseling.
