Relationship Addiction



Introduction

What’s Codependency

How It Happens

Characteristics

Who’s Affected

The Behavior

Questions for Yourself

Tips for Ending Codependent Relationships

Coaching/Consultation

Next Month



A relationship addiction is another way of saying codependency. Most codependent people don’t think that they are – or that they have a problem. They think that it’s the other person’s fault and that THEY should change. So if you rescue others and protect them, when they should be suffering from their own consequences, if you do everything for other people and little for yourself, if you blame instead of looking at your own responsibility, well you just might be codependent.

In the last issue of Powerful Living, the topic was moving on after a break up and I’ve received many e-mails from codependent people who typically suffer from this problem. If you have this ‘relationship addiction’, moving on can be gut-wrenching – and although you know better you can’t get yourself to move on.

The December topic – Relationship Addiction. Codependency, is more common than you think.


What’s Codependency

Around 10 years ago this word was coined to identify an emotional and behavioral problem, affecting a person’s inability to have a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship. These people get attached in a dysfunctional relationship, and they know it’s bad, but they stay anyway. You can call it a ‘relationship addiction’.

How It Happens

Anyone can be in codependent relationships. All it takes is being born into a dysfunctional family with these problems: someone in the family has an addiction to food, sex, relationships, gambling, substance abuse etc. There may be physical, emotional or sexual abuse or chronic physical or mental illness.

The families know that problems exist but they don’t talk openly about it.

Characteristics

Subconsciously, co-dependents play roles:

The rescuer. This person save others from negative consequences eg. calling in sick for the person with a hangover.

The Peacemaker. Rationalizes that everything is ‘normal’ – even takes part in the behavior.

Superman/woman. Plays the hero to preserve the family image. Takes care of everything.

The victim. Becomes a scapegoat and blames the other for their misery.

The Avoider. Detaches from the family: ‘I don’t care’

Who’s affected

Everyone – a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, colleague of a dysfunctional person. The word ‘codependency’ was used to describe partners with substance abuse, or those in a relationship with an addicted person. Today, it’s a term for anyone from a dysfunctional family.

The Behavior

Codependents have low self esteem so they find it difficult to ‘be themselves’. Some escape through alcohol and drugs. Others use work, gambling, sexual activity, food etc. All their care-giving becomes compulsive and defeating and they often take on the ‘martyr’ role.



Questions for Yourself

Do you accept your own limitations?

Do you give too much? Do you fear infidelity?

Do you think more about the other person’s problems than about your own?

Do you keep checking to catch the person in their bad behavior?

Do you worry that if you stop controlling the other person, he/she will fall apart?

Do you blame yourself, cover up or ‘rescue’ another?

Do you ignore or downplay a real problem that exists


Tips For Ending Codependent Relationships

1. Read about co-dependency and get to understand it.

2. Tell yourself that you didn’t cause the problem so you can’t cure it. Stop being a fixer.

3. Don’t rescue another by giving money, lying or getting the person out of trouble.

4. If there is domestic violence in the family, get help.

5. Focus on your own feelings, desires and needs.

6. Allow children to express their feelings.

7. Set your boundaries. Don’t do what you know is wrong or what you feel you should not do.

8. Take action towards a better life for you and your family

Compare a relationship addiction with a happy one

Coaching/Consultation

Recovery Coaching, Personal Coaching and Consultation has been added to Untwist-your-thinking and it’s taken off. If you have any questions about it, here's how it works

Next Month

In spite of all the emotional and financial upheaval, wishing you a peaceful holiday season and I’ve loved your feedback. The topic of the first e-zine of 2009, The topic is self-criticism. We are usually our harshest critic. If there is one New Year’s resolution you should make, it’s to stop the self-judgments. There are tips to lighten up.

Happy Holidays!!



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