co-dependency
Unhealthy emotional entanglement
Co-dependency is a pattern of excessive emotional reliance on another person, typically in relationships where one partner enables the other's destructive behavior—addiction, immaturity, or irresponsibility.
The co-dependent person derives identity and self-worth from caretaking, often at the expense of their own needs: Her therapist helped her recognize the co-dependency in her marriage.
The term emerged from addiction treatment but now applies broadly to any relationship marked by unhealthy enmeshment.
Also spelled codependency.
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- enablingMaking something feasible
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- boundariesLines marking separation
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
unhealthy · relationship · neediness · control · self-esteem · validation · approval · identity
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- partnerOne who shares activity
- spouseMarried partner
- parentMother or father
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
narcissist · toxic · imbalance · reciprocity · martyr · savior · rescuer · victim
One who facilitates harmful behavior
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- Al-AnonSupport for affected families
- twelve-stepAddiction recovery framework
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
sobriety · relapse · addict · substance · alcoholism · sponsor · denial · detachment
enmeshment
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- enablingMaking something feasible
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- boundariesLines marking separation
dysfunction · unhealthy · relationship · neediness · control · self-esteem · validation · approval · identity · insecurity
enmeshment
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
caregiver · narcissist · toxic · imbalance · reciprocity · martyr · savior · rescuer · victim · triangulation
enabler
One who facilitates harmful behavior
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- Al-AnonSupport for affected families
- twelve-stepAddiction recovery framework
intervention · sobriety · relapse · addict · substance · alcoholism · sponsor · denial · detachment · tough-love
- Alcoholismalcoholism, alcoholic, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, problem drinking
- self-helpself-help, self-help books, advice, self-improvement, personal development
- twin studiesidentical twins, fraternal twins, twin studies, twin bond, twin language
co-dependencyinterdependence
Reciprocal reliance between entities
mutual respect · reciprocity · secure attachment · healthy boundaries · equality
co-dependencyindependence
Freedom from external control
self-reliance · autonomy · self-sufficiency · self-determination · individualism
co-dependencydifferentiation
Recognizing meaningful differences
healthy boundaries · self-differentiation · separateness · detachment · emotional detachment