Codependency and Addiction: Symptoms and Treatment
Healing from addiction is difficult for every addict, but when codependency and addiction occur together, recovery can be even more difficult. Here, you will learn what codependency is, the relationship between codependency and addiction, and treatment for codependency with and without addiction.
First, let’s consider the basics:
What is Codependency?
Codependency is a relationship pattern which sees one person putting another’s needs before their own. When codependency and addiction occur together, the two behaviours can reinforce one another.
To further explain, we’ll say that two people are dating. The first person has an addiction to alcohol. In codependent relationships, this is the “addict.” The second person focuses on the other’s needs to the extent that they do not think about their own. This person is known as the “caretaker.” The pattern of behaviour that occurs between the two is known as “codependency.”
Codependent behaviour can extend even further, so that one person is even making significant decisions for the other, telling them what to think, and ultimately limiting their ability to act independently. In this case, codependency and addiction directly contribute to maintain unhealthy behavior.