Codependent relationship dynamics have a serious negative impact on the mental and emotional health of the individuals involved. Codependency is often a factor in substance use. Mental health treatment programs in Omaha can provide the insight and tools needed to overcome codependency and build healthier relationships.
Getting help for codependency begins with recognizing that it is happening. By knowing some of the most common signs of codependency and understanding how codependency is deeply related to addiction, you take the first steps toward affecting change for yourself or a loved one.
Northpoint Omaha offers programs designed to support healing from substance use, including a family therapy program designed to address and improve relationships rooted in codependency. Do you want to learn more about how we can help support healthy relationships in your life? If so, call 888.687.8014 and ask about the family therapy program at Northpoint Omaha.
What Is Codependency?
Codependency is a term that psychologists and relationship experts use to describe a specific type of unhealthy relationship dynamic. This condition often manifests in relationships where there is an imbalanced role of a “giver” and a “taker.”
In a codependent relationship, the giver, often motivated by a deep-seated need to be needed, seeks to find a sense of purpose, validation, or connection by excessively caring for the taker. This might involve sacrificing their own needs, desires, and well-being to meet the demands of the taker. On the other hand, the taker, possibly due to their own emotional or psychological issues, relies heavily on the giver to fulfill their needs and desires, often at the expense of the giver’s health and happiness.
A relationship is labeled as codependent when this imbalance results in negative outcomes for one or both parties involved, leading to:
- Emotional distress
- A sense of being trapped
- A lack of personal fulfillment
It’s common to think of codependency as primarily occurring between romantic partners. However, it can also be present in relationships between parents and children, siblings, and even close friends.
What Are Common Signs of Codependency?
Codependency can take many forms. However, all codependent behaviors create an environment that is emotionally unhealthy for at least one of the people involved.
Some of the most common signs of codependency include:
- Focusing intensely on the actions, thoughts, or needs of another person to an unhealthy degree, often at the expense of one’s own well-being
- Experiencing difficulty in communicating or expressing emotions openly and effectively, which can hinder personal relationships
- Engaging in behavior aimed at fixing, rescuing, or controlling others, typically stemming from a deep-seated need to feel valued
- Consistently self-sacrificing to meet another person’s needs, frequently neglecting personal needs and desires in the process
- Acting primarily from a desire to avoid criticism or rejection, which can lead to people-pleasing behaviors that compromise one’s authenticity
- Deriving a sense of self-worth and identity predominantly from the relationship, often leading to an unhealthy dependency on the approval of others
Individuals trapped in codependent relationship dynamics often struggle with issues like low self-esteem, people pleasing, and the inability to set and maintain healthy boundaries.
How Are Relationships and Addiction Connected?
The concept of codependency originated in the context of substance use disorder. It’s a way to describe how close family members often enable the unhealthy behaviors of a loved one struggling with substance use disorder.
Examples of enabling someone struggling with substance use include:
- Providing money for drugs or alcohol
- Excusing or justifying their behavior
- Taking on their responsibilities
- Shielding them from the consequences of substance use
In fact, there is a deep connection between relationships and addiction. It can be painful and difficult to watch how substance use impacts the health and well-being of a loved one, and it can be tempting to want to help when possible.
However, codependency often stops a person struggling with a substance use disorder from getting the help they need to heal.
Northpoint Omaha Offers Help for Codependency
Northpoint Omaha is an outpatient treatment center that provides behavioral health services to patients in Omaha. Our flexible outpatient programs support healing from mental health and substance use concerns.
Treatment at Northpoint Omaha may involve a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), process groups, and family therapy. We accept dual-diagnosis patients, and our facility also offers psychiatric care.
The programs at Northpoint Omaha can help patients identify how codependency is impacting their lives and provide the support needed for making lasting changes.
Understanding codependency is of central importance to helping individuals and their loved ones learn how to overcome substance use disorder. To learn more about codependency and other behavioral health concerns, call Northpoint at 888.687.8014 today or use our online contact form.