You water down your Mom’s drink when she’s not looking.

You get out of bed at 2 AM to pick your ex-boyfriend up from the bar and drive him home.

You pay your sister’s rent after she loses her rent money gambling.

Are you codependent?

Codependency is a term we throw around lightly these days. It’s great that it’s become mainstream, but we’re not all using the same definition. Before I delve into some other topics related to codependency, I think it’s worth a post here to introduce the basic elements of codependency, as I see them.

What is codependency?

Codependency is a dysfunctional relationship pattern. It’s not a diagnosis.

People who identify as codependent usually play the role of “rescuer” in a relationship with someone who is impaired or ill in some way. You’re constantly trying to help, change, fix, or rescue. You derive self-esteem and purpose through helping. You, therefore, become attached to people who have problems of various sorts and need to be taken care of. Perhaps you’ve noticed a pattern of dating or befriending people who need to be taken care of. However, your focus on helping creates an unbalanced relationship leaving your needs unmet.

It’s more than a desire to help

Codependency goes beyond a tremendous desire to help others. It’s called co-dependency because both people in the relationship are dependent on each other.

Although codependency came out of the substance abuse field, we now recognize that all kinds of impairments, such as mental illness, addiction, narcissism, or physical health problems, can also keep a person from functioning fully in a codependent relationship. This person is dependent on his or her partner/friend/family member* due to these impairments. The partner provides needed emotional, financial, or physical support. Often the ill partner has few, if any, other close relationships. S/he’s burned bridges, has poor social skills, or a difficult personality which has left him/her estranged from or isolated from other support people. S/he’s truly dependent on the co-dependent partner.

Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free

You can’t change your partner, but you’re a pro at keeping him/her from experiencing negative consequences

Rescuers tend to mitigate the negative consequences of their partner’s behavior. Therefore, your partner never experiences the full impact of his/her poor choices, dangerous, illegal, or immature behavior, and never learns or changes. Your partner unconsciously thinks, “Why should I change when my addiction brings me all this care taking?” These problematic behaviors can continue for long periods of time in part because you enable them. Your rescuing actually erodes your partner’s motivation to change.

You become stuck in a dysfunctional pattern. The recurring problems and crises cement your bond.

You’re a slave to your fear and guilt

You feel guilty if  you consider setting boundaries, limiting help, or ending the relationship. Another true sign of co-dependency is that your self-worth is so entangled with your partner that you’re afraid to say no. You’re afraid to let him/her suffer any consequences. Codependents are also “pleasers” with a high need to be liked, wanted or needed. You likely have low self-esteem, difficult asserting yourself, and fear of abandonment or being alone.

Care-taking becomes your identity

You become so wrapped up in your partner (and his/her problems) that you lose yourself in the process. You don’t know who you are without your role as rescuer and care-taker. You’re desperate to feel in control of an out of control partner and relationship. Underneath the fixing and helping, there is anger, shame, anxiety and pain.

You’ve created the perfect storm: Your partner doesn’t develop the skills or experience the consequences needed for change. S/he is dependent on your help. And you need your partner’s addiction or illness to feel good as a rescuer and care-taker. Plus your fear of abandonment keeps you tolerant of poor treatment, unmet needs, and unhappiness in your relationship.

To find out more, join my Facebook page full of tips and articles on self-acceptance, healthy relationships, and happiness.

—

This originally ran on PsychCentral and is republished on Medium.

***

The Good Men Project gives people the insights, tools, and skills to survive, prosper and thrive in today’s changing world. A world that is changing faster than most people can keep up with that change. A world where jobs are changing, gender roles are changing, and stereotypes are being upended. A world that is growing more diverse and inclusive. A world where working towards equality will become a core competence. We’ve built a community of millions of people from around the globe who believe in this path forward. Thanks for joining The Good Men Project.

Support us on Patreon and we will support you and your writing! Tools to improve your writing and platform-building skills, a community to get you connected, and access to our editors and publisher. Your support will help us build a better, more inclusive world for all.

***

Photo credit: iStock

*For simplicity, I use the term partner. But co-dependency can exist in any close relationship (parent-child, intimate partners, siblings, etc.).