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Codependency

Codependency is a concept that originated within the Alcoholics Anonymous treatment program. A codependent person cares excessively and inappropriately for someone else, typically a spouse who also is needy for reasons of mental health, addictive, economic, physical, or financial difficulties that he or she cannot seem to resolve.

The codependent person unconsciously enables, directs, ineffectually blames, excuses, pities, and otherwise helps continue the needy person’s problems: This satisfies the desire to be needed but prevents any positive change in the relationship.

Codependency is typically learned in the family of origin, where dysfunctional behavior can actually help a child adapt to a family that causes severe emotional pain, stress, and chaos … such as is typically observed in families headed by alcoholic or abusive parents.