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What is co-Dependency?
Addiction (to alcohol or drugs) has been called a "family disease". This is because it affects not only the individual but also all those near and dear to him. Usually it is wife, parents and children. Though each family is unique, yet all of them have common traits and characteristics. When one member becomes an active addict, families tend to behave and react in predictable ways.
The family is a system wherein members are interdependent, striving to work together in harmony. Any stress, such as addiction of one member, causes the whole family to re-adjust and re-align in new ways. The family of an addict is a set of hurt and confused persons. Even though they are not using a drug, nevertheless they are victimised by the drug. They are called co-dependents..
Co-dependency means being a partner in dependency (chemical dependency, or addiction). The co-dependent normally develops an unhealthy pattern of coping with life. Even though she wants the addict to give up drugs totally, her defective and defensive behaviour actually promote the addict to strengthen his addiction.
Co-dependents are caught in a ceaseless cycle of reacting not just to their own problems and pains but also problems, pains and behaviour of others. Some of the typical emotional responses of co-dependents are guilt, grief, anger, hurt, shame, fear, loneliness and so on. Site Map | FAQ | Contact Us | Spread The Word
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