The foundation of healthy relationships is a sense of “give and take.” When you truly love someone, you will make small concessions to make your friend, partner, or family member feel loved and appreciated. However, there are relationships where one person may give too much of themselves—and they sacrifice their own well-being in order to make others happy. When this occurs, it is a tell-tale sign of codependency.
If you are in a codependent relationship, it is highly dysfunctional and can cause tremendous pain and suffering. Not only does it affect your life, but it also affects your partner and those you love. While codependency is debilitating, it can be addressed through specialized treatment for codependency. Safe Harbor House provides codependency treatment programs in Mission Viejo, CA that are evidence-based, proven to work, and individualized to meet your unique needs. Call us toll-free today to learn more.
What is Codependency?
Simply defined, codependency occurs when one person assumes a caregiver role for another person. While this may occur to some degree in healthy relationships, the “caregiver” in a codependent relationship becomes consumed what that role. As a result, they neglect their own well-being and often lose their identity.
There are two roles that make up a codependent relationship—the giver and the taker. The “giver” (or enabler) has an overwhelming need to keep the relationship going by overexerting themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. On the other hand, the taker benefits from their attention and gets more than they give in the relationship.
The root causes of codependent behavior can be traced back to childhood. For example, children raised by overprotective parents may be coddled to the degree that they don’t learn essential life skills. As they grow older, they are more likely to seek others to care for their needs. Codependency can also be found in adults who were raised in households where there were trust and control issues. However, a more common root cause of codependency is drug and alcohol addiction.
How Does Codependency Relate to Addiction?
People who are codependent in their current relationship more than often had childhoods where substance abuse was common. In these instances, children can forsake their “child” role and take on a caretaker role to keep the family functioning on a daily basis. As they grow older they tend to seek others who may be struggling with a variety of issues. If they are in a relationship where the other is struggling with substance abuse, they tend to enable their behavior by making excuses for their actions, buying them alcohol or drugs, or shielding them from legal consequences.
Those who are the “takers” in a codependent relationship may turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with long-standing feelings of insecurity and guilt. Those raised in an overprotective environment may feel guilt that they never learned the basic coping and life skills needed to function day-to-day. If the person in the “taker” role is addicted to drugs and alcohol, the giver may be inclined to use substances to feel some closeness to their partner.
Components of Codependency Treatment
Codependency is a complex condition that requires specialized treatment for both parties. The best treatments for codependency include psychotherapy options, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These therapies focus on the negative thought patterns and habits and allow codependent behavior to flourish. Additionally, codependency programs feature couples counseling and family counseling.
If addiction is present in addition to codependency, substance abuse treatment is a must. In the treatment process, therapies such as CBT figure prominently into the treatment plan to address enabling behaviors. In addition, one or both parties must follow an individualized plan including 12-step groups (i.e., Alcoholics Anonymous, Codependents Anonymous), life skills training, relapse prevention techniques, and holistic therapies, among other interventions.
Are You in Need of Codependency Treatment in Mission Viejo, CA? Safe Harbor House Can Help!
Codependency is challenging to treat and can be made much more difficult with a co-occurring substance abuse issue. Call Safe Harbor House toll-free today if you are looking for codependency treatment in Mission Viejo or the surrounding area.
Safe Harbor House has been at the forefront of addiction and mental health treatment for nearly three decades. We offer codependency treatment programs featuring effective therapies that are proven to work and customized to meet your specific needs. Family-owned and operated, Safe Harbor House features a smaller, more intimate environment allowing for greater personal care and deeper connections with staff and others in recovery.
Begin your transformation today with the help of Safe Harbor House.
