co-dependent
Unhealthily attached emotionally
Co-dependent describes a relationship pattern where one person's sense of purpose or identity becomes excessively tied to supporting or enabling another, often someone with an addiction or dysfunction.
The co-dependent partner may neglect their own needs while focusing on managing, rescuing, or controlling the other: She realized she'd been co-dependent, making excuses for his drinking for years.
Also spelled codependent.
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- enablingMaking something feasible
- boundariesLines marking separation
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- needinessExcessive emotional reliance
clinginess · people-pleasing · approval-seeking · self-sacrifice · caretaking · rescuing · fixer · insecurity
Making something feasible
- people-pleasingExcessive accommodation of others
- overprotectiveGuarding too zealously
- controllingExerting authority over others
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
passive-aggressive · submissiveness · compliance · denial · excuse-making · rationalizing · shielding · caretaking
Making something feasible
- alcoholismAddiction to drinking
- addictCompulsive dependent
- alcoholicAddicted to drinking
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
sobriety · relapse · intervention · twelve-step · Al-Anon · CODA · sponsor · detachment
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- bondingForming close connections
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
imbalance · one-sided · parasitic · symbiotic · entangled · fused · merged · boundaries
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- healingRestoration of health
- boundariesLines marking separation
- self-careMaintaining personal wellbeing
self-worth · individuation · autonomy · detachment · Al-Anon · CODA · twelve-step · sponsor
enmeshment
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- enablingMaking something feasible
- boundariesLines marking separation
- attachmentConnection or fondness
neediness · clinginess · people-pleasing · approval-seeking · self-sacrifice · caretaking · rescuing · fixer · insecurity · guilt
enabling
Making something feasible
- people-pleasingExcessive accommodation of others
- overprotectiveGuarding too zealously
- controllingExerting authority over others
manipulative · passive-aggressive · submissiveness · compliance · denial · excuse-making · rationalizing · shielding · caretaking · rescuing
enabling
Making something feasible
- alcoholismAddiction to drinking
- addictCompulsive dependent
- alcoholicAddicted to drinking
recovery · sobriety · relapse · intervention · twelve-step · Al-Anon · CODA · sponsor · detachment · bottom
enmeshment
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- bondingForming close connections
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
dysfunction · imbalance · one-sided · parasitic · symbiotic · entangled · fused · merged · boundaries · detachment
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- healingRestoration of health
- boundariesLines marking separation
self-care · self-worth · individuation · autonomy · detachment · Al-Anon · CODA · twelve-step · sponsor · meetings
co-dependentindependent
Free from external control
self-sufficient · autonomous · self-reliant · self-contained · individuated
co-dependentinterdependent
Relying on one another
balanced · boundaried · differentiated · healthy · well-adjusted
co-dependentindividuated
Made into distinct individual
self-assured · self-actualized · centered · whole · self-soothing