Generally, behind every addict, there is always a codependent. Codependency can be defined as a disease, whose main characteristic is the lack of an identity of its own.
A codependent is a person who depends on emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, physically or financially on another person who is obviously ill, disabled, needy or addicted. It is characterized by an extreme, obsessive, sickly concern for another person or circumstance. It is the addiction to a sick relationship. Its primary purpose is to control or change the behavior of that other, not being able to see other alternatives to live better. Her favorite phrase is: “If he (she) changed, I could be happy”.
Environments Where Codependency Is Developed
A dysfunctional family in which things are not clear, feelings are repressed, and you do not know what to expect or what to expect, where there is clear and dominant manipulation and blackmailing. The school gives an exaggerated importance to the study, reasoning, to memorize but little or no importance to the feelings, to the development of our intuitive part. Competition is encouraged in excess, causing feelings of disability in which they do not manage to be the best.
Who is a codependent?
Codependency is commonly referred to as the wife, father, relative or friend of a person affected by an addiction to alcohol or drugs. Originally, the term codependent was used exclusively in people, couples or spouses who were in a relationship with an alcoholic or addicted person. However, nowadays the term has been expanded and used in any codependent person within a dysfunctional family.
How does a codependent person behave?
Co-dependent people generally have very low self-esteem, procure others over their personal well-being in order to feel better. It is difficult for them to behave as they really are, due to the constant effort of procuring others over themselves.
Basically, the codependent has good intentions in trying to care for those who are going through some difficulty in life, however, overprotection towards this type of person becomes compulsive and exhausting for the codependent.
The main characteristics of Codependency
Rescue:
The codependent has an obsession to rescue, care for others, take responsibility for their own life to the other, avoid making decisions, grow, and mature.
React:
The codependent person does not know how to respond, just react. Reacts to feelings, thoughts and what others say or do. Reacts also to their own thoughts, feelings or behaviors, that is, exaggerates, acts.
Tie:
It is being bound (bound) by bonds of slavery to another person. It is not letting someone be free to live their own life. It is not being free to make decisions or be yourself. The life of one person seems to depend on the other.
Dependence:
This means not being oneself, not having options, attitudes or free behaviors. It is emotional, intellectual, physical or financial dependence on another person. The happiness of others is more important than ours and that is why we allow them to make decisions about our life that correspond only to us.
Control:
It is making others do what you want. It is spending energy seeking a position of supremacy. It is not respecting the freedom of the other.
“During the family internment process in Clínica Libre, in parallel, the family receives a therapeutic approach, where they are trained and developed techniques to acquire fundamental tools to make a personal change towards a new lifestyle, and prepare for when it arrives. The term of the treatment in the clinic can be received at home to the patient in different and better conditions.”
