There are a variety of situations that can lead to two adults becoming codependent of each other. One of the most common tends to be when one adult is suffering from substance abuse and the other acts as their caretaker.
As helpful as it might seem to have a friend or loved one there for you as you pursue treatment, when boundaries cease to exist it can negatively impact or undo the support offered through a recovery program.
What Is Codependency?
Someone who is considered a codependent individual either faces extreme physical and emotional needs while their friend, partner, or family member responds to all of those needs. In a relationship that involves drug addiction, this can look like this:
- The partner, family member, or child of someone abusing drugs
- Two significant others who are abusing drugs
- The close friend of someone abusing drugs
The reason a codependent relationship tends to persist is due to one or both of the individuals in it suffer from what mental health experts have defined as a relationship addiction. This is because there is such a heavy emphasis put on the relationship between these two parties, that one or both individuals feel that leaving is impossible. Some other signs of codependency include
- An Absence Of Healthy Boundaries
- Neglected Personal Needs
- Low Confidence And Self-Esteem
- Obsession Or Fears Surrounding Relationships
- Caretaking & People-Pleasing To An Unhealthy Degree
If you believe you and your loved one suffering from a substance use disorder are also experiencing consistent codependent behavior, then you need to seek help for both of you for the best possible outcome.
How Does Codependency Impact An Addicted Loved One
Codependency and drug addiction don’t always go hand-in-hand, but it is not uncommon between many caretakers, family members, or friends of someone who is facing substance abuse. If a person suffering from addiction is also facing a codependent relationship, this should be taken into account by healthcare professionals during treatment. Otherwise, the consequences of letting their codependency go untreated include:
- Not being able to fully commit to recovery long-term
- Higher chances of facing relapse
- Not internalizing the physical and emotional consequences of their actions during addiction
It’s important for the addicted person as well as the non-addicted codependent person in their life to seek help for their relationship. Not only will this give them a better chance of successfully getting through their addiction treatment but also sustaining with the physical and emotional tools they were given to make recovery last.
If the second party in a codependent relationship is not facing drug abuse or addiction, then they need to seek additional help as well. This will help their loved one in recovery as well as themselves. There are plenty of support groups, including co-dependents anonymous, which can help codependent people set boundaries with their loved ones.
Drew Horowitz & Associates is here to help your loved one that is suffering from drug abuse. Let us help them get on the road to recovery by taking an approach catered to their physical and emotional needs. Contact us for help now.
