Codependency is a relationship where one person loses their sense of self and independence, and believes that they need to help someone else to find their worth. It is someone who gives and gives and has difficulty setting and enforcing boundaries. People who are codependent tend to self-sacrifice, focus on others, and have difficulty recognizing and expressing their emotions. With Codependency, it is easy to get so wrapped up in what is best for everyone else, that we never think of what we could do for ourselves.
When we’re children, we definitely codependent in the sense that we’re seeking approval. We want to gain mom and dad’s love, and mom and dad are supposed to mirror all those things back to us. This relationship with our parents, our caregivers, is supposed to create the healthy inner dialogue within ourselves that we will have for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, a lot of us didn’t get the support or care that should have been shown. It doesn’t necessarily mean that our parents were abusive or neglectful. Just that they weren’t able to emotionally connect with us in the way that we were needing. So instead, we’re codependent and unconsciously seeking validation.
Some signs of Codependency include:
- Deep-seated need for approval
- Conflict avoidance
- Tendency to apologize or take the…
