Relationships between friends, partners, and family members should be mutually beneficial. However, in some cases, the relationships are unhealthy when one person becomes codependent on the other. Those who exhibit signs of codependency should consider a family therapy program at Baltimore Detox Center to discuss their feelings and find ways to become healthy participants in the relationship. Doing so could improve outcomes for other issues, such as addiction, that may be present.
What Is a Codependent Relationship?
A codependent relationship is one in which one of the participants becomes too reliant on the other. Without correction, the other party becomes an enabler of the codependent person’s actions. The main theme of this problem is the codependent person’s focus. Their life revolves around maintaining the relationship. Plus, they will use all their resources to give the other party anything they want. But, when the enabler wants to use drugs or abuse the other person, this relationship becomes dangerous.
Unfortunately, a codependent relationship often results in unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. For instance, the codependent person often feels anxious about the relationship or experiences guilt whenever they think about themselves.
In these cases, self-care and concern may vanish, making it difficult for the codependent person to seek help for other issues they may have. For example, if someone who is codependent needs a substance abuse recovery program, they may not want to attend. They feel guilty about taking care of their personal needs. In such instances, treating the codependent thoughts through family therapy treatment programs will help. With this therapy, the individual can put more focus on personal recovery.
People can also need help in codependent relationships as the enabler. This person may allow the other person to continue to use drugs or alcohol to keep them happy instead of helping them to seek treatment or ask that they go to a drug and alcohol detox center.
What Are Signs of Codependency?
There are several signs of codependency that family members and friends can watch out for in their loved ones. Individuals may even recognize these signs in themselves and want to seek counseling. In either case, Baltimore Detox Center can help. Signs of codependency may include:
- Not being able to enjoy personal hobbies or relationships outside the codependent one
- Staying with an abusive partnership
- Doing anything possible to please the other person
- Guilt when thinking about self-care
- Negative emotions when thinking about their needs in the relationship
- Experiencing anxiety if the other person does not seem happy
- Avoiding arguments
- Keeping personal substance use or the partner’s substance use a secret, even from the law
Why Are Signs of Codependency Troubling?
People in codependent relationships need help. Both the enabler and the codependent person should seek addiction therapy. Doing so can help them to have a healthier relationship. However, the longer codependency lasts, the more challenging changing old habits will be.
Additionally, in some cases, self-harm through addiction may occur. With addiction, treatment for both addiction and codependency should happen as soon as possible. Someone who enables the other person to keep taking drugs or alcohol risks that person’s life.
Plus, the sooner substance use addiction recovery can start, the easier the process will be for the person going through treatment. Both substance use detox and recovery are much more difficult for those who have long-term addictions to drugs or alcohol.
Heal Codependent Relationships and Addiction Help at Baltimore Detox Center
Addiction recovery may improve when relationships within the family are stronger and healthier. Therefore, contact a recovery center that offers therapy for the entire family, such as Baltimore Detox Center. Contact us today by calling [Direct] or completing our online contact form. We believe that relationships are the key to recovery. Therefore, we offer therapies that focus on our patients’ roles in their families and social groups. Recovery is possible with the right guidance and therapy at Baltimore Detox Center.