Codependency is when there is a relationship in which one partner has extreme physical or emotional needs, and the other partner dedicates themselves to fulfilling those needs. A lot of the time, addiction and codependency are experienced simultaneously, and it can make it that much more difficult to recover.
What Is Codependency and Addiction?
It is common for those struggling with addictions to become codependent with certain relationships. Depending on the situation, many people tend to lean on one another that much more closely during vulnerable moments. Codependency and addiction can manifest itself in a multitude of ways. Codependency can occur in partners who are both abusing drugs, in children of people who are addicted to drugs, and with close adult family members or significant others of an addict.
When a person is in a codependent relationship with someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, both parties may experience negative side effects. Some of the risks of this behavior include the inability to focus on responsibilities outside of the relationship with this person, increased risk of developing an addiction, loss of relationships outside of the codependent relationship, and neglecting your own needs to care for someone else’s.
For the person who is struggling with addiction and codependency, the codependent relationship can have a severe impact on the addiction itself. Being codependent and relying on someone else to take care of you can severely impact the recovery process. Codependency can also turn into enabling. When an addict knows that they are being taken care of so closely, they may brush off getting help because they feel that they are already being helped. Additionally, the idea that the addiction may one day be resolved may scare either party off because they are scared to alter the intensity of their relationship.
When a person is struggling with addiction as well as codependency, it should be addressed and taken into account when starting treatment. First and foremost, there are studies that show higher relapse rates in individuals who exude codependent tendencies. Because the codependent partner may feel dependent on the addiction to maintain the relationship, returning to the relationship as it was after treatment may incur a risk for relapse for the addicted partner.
The Best Books on Codependency and Addiction
There are various ways to get help when attempting to get over a codependent relationship that involves addiction. First, it is highly important that you address the nature of your relationship at the start of rehab. From there, literature is a great place to turn to look for answers.
Some of the best books to help with codependency and addiction are: Codependent No More by Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie, The Power of Letting Go by John Purkiss, It Didn’t Start with You by Mark Wolynn, Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend, Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody and more.
How To Get Your Loved One Help With Addiction Today
Addiction is a complex disease that affects not only the person who is going through it, but also their loved ones and all the people they surround themselves with. It can be an extremely devastating thing to watch someone you love go through, therefore it is important to seek help from the right places.
Rehab offers therapy, psychoanalysis, medical supervision, and an incredible team of around-the-clock support that is essential to the recovery of someone who is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Valley Recovery Center in Agua Dulce is an incredible place to start your recovery journey and to start making both yourself and your loved ones proud. Please visit us today to learn more about how you can recover from an addiction to drugs, alcohol, codependency, and more.
