Is There Help For Co-Dependency?

Co-dependency is a behaviour that is learned, it is passed down for generation to generation. It can also be an emotional and behavioral condition that affects one's ability to have a healthy mutually-satisfying relationship. Co-dependent people often form relationships that are one-divided emotionally-destructive and/or abusive: physically or emotionally. The behavior has been learned from watching and imitating from other family members that show it. It can be compulsive, maladaptive behaviours that was learned from family members that has been used to survive in a family which is experiencing huge emotional stress and/or pain. 


Dysfunctional families are ones that its members would suffer from fear, anger, pain, or shame and it has been ignored and not acknowledged. There are underlying problems that include addiction to drugs, alcohol, relationships, work, food, sex, or gambling; the existence of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; a family member suffering from a chronic, physical, or mental illness. People in dysfunctional families detach themselves, they don't feel or confront emotions, don't trust anybody, and don't acknowledge that problems exist. 


An adults co-dependence has a greater tendency to get involved in relationships with people who are unreliable, emotionally unavailable or needy. Why? Because co-dependent people try to provide and control everything in the relationship without addressing their own needs, which sets them up for continued involvement in the relationship. 


When a co-dependent person gets involved with another person who is "healthy", they still use their own system. However, they usually don't get involved in "healthy" relationships. 


Co-dependent behaviors like low self-esteem is a result of the situations that they grew up in. They look to anything outside of themselves to make them feel better. They develop compulsive behaviors, which is a psychological state where a person acts against their own will or conscious desires in which the behavior sources of great emotional pain and stress.