codependents
Enmeshed relationship partners
Codependents are people in relationships where one person's emotional needs become unhealthily enmeshed with another's dysfunction—typically a partner's addiction, mental illness, or destructive behavior.
The codependent enables or perpetuates the problem while neglecting their own wellbeing: The support group was full of codependents married to alcoholics.
The term emerged from addiction recovery circles and has spread into general psychological vocabulary.
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- boundariesLines marking separation
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- maladaptiveHarmful to one's wellbeing
- unhealthyHarmful to wellbeing
manipulation · control · enabling · overprotection · shielding · excusing · denial · minimization
Restoration of health
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- boundariesLines marking separation
- self-careMaintaining personal wellbeing
empowerment · growth · detachment · Al-Anon · twelve-step · sponsor · meeting · program
Addiction to drinking
- substancePhysical material with mass
- enablerOne who facilitates harmful behavior
- Al-AnonSupport for affected families
- relapseReturn to former illness
recovery · intervention · detachment · bottom · sobriety · addict · spouse · partner
Connection or fondness
- bondingForming close connections
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- emotionalShowing strong feelings
closeness · loyalty · enmeshment · neediness · clingy · possessiveness · abandonment · rejection
Cooperative partners united together
- groupAssembled collection of things
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- sponsorFunder of activities
- meetingGathering for discussion
community · understanding · validation · encouragement · accountability · check-in · service · outreach
enmeshment
Boundary-blurring relational pattern
- boundariesLines marking separation
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- maladaptiveHarmful to one's wellbeing
unhealthy · manipulation · control · enabling · overprotection · shielding · excusing · denial · minimization · people-pleasing
healing
Restoration of health
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- boundariesLines marking separation
self-care · empowerment · growth · detachment · Al-Anon · twelve-step · sponsor · meeting · program · literature
alcoholism
Addiction to drinking
- substancePhysical material with mass
- enablerOne who facilitates harmful behavior
- Al-AnonSupport for affected families
relapse · recovery · intervention · detachment · bottom · sobriety · addict · spouse · partner · parent
attachment
Connection or fondness
- bondingForming close connections
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- partnershipShared business arrangement
emotional · closeness · loyalty · enmeshment · neediness · clingy · possessiveness · abandonment · rejection · approval-seeking
allies
Cooperative partners united together
- groupAssembled collection of things
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- sponsorFunder of activities
meeting · community · understanding · validation · encouragement · accountability · check-in · service · outreach · newcomer
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
codependentsindependents
Unaffiliated persons or entities
avoidants · lone wolves · individualists · loners · hermits
codependentsnarcissists
Self-absorbed individuals
egotists · takers · exploiters · users · sociopaths