EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH
Codependency?
Codependency is a pattern of behavior where a person relies on other people for their sense of self-worth and well-being.
Need immediate help?
If you or someone you know is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else — or if there’s any type of health emergency — please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
What to Look For
How codependency might show up
Codependent people may have difficulty setting boundaries and saying no. They may feel like they need to take care of others to be loved or accepted, and they may also be afraid of being alone or abandoned.
When someone is in a codependent relationship, one person’s needs are met at the expense of the other person’s needs. Codependency can often be characterized by control, manipulation, and enabling behavior, paired with feelings of guilt or selfishness once a person who struggles with expressing their needs and feelings tries to do so.
Need immediate help?
If you or someone you know is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else — or if there’s any type of health emergency — please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Codependency can be a difficult pattern to break and lead to challenges with relationships and conditions such as anxiety and depression. Individual therapy and group therapy with a therapist who can talk through these challenges is the most common way to identify codependency, learn more about it, and develop coping skills.
Rosecrance can address codependency in many programs in services, including as part of residential treatment and outpatient treatment.
Frequently asked questions about codependency
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There are many things to consider with codependency such as childhood trauma, challenging relationships with parents or caregivers, or family history of mental health and substance use disorders or abuse.
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Some behaviors associated with codependency include people pleasing, struggling to set boundaries, low self-esteem, challenges with expressing emotions, and fear of abandonment.