The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Brian Murray, LMHC, NCC Codependency is a word that was born out of the addiction field of therapy. It’s a description that is used for a person who is involved with a person who has substance abuse problems. The codependent has an addiction as well. They are addicted to love. There are many traits and characteristics of a codependent that can be sub-categorized under the big 3 discussed here. These are the fixer, the controller and the apathetic. In addiction they may also be accused of being an enabler or a rescuer. Codependents provide resources to the addicted person hoping they will get love in return. And hope is the key word, they hold out for the hope of getting love if they just prove how wonderful they are to the addicted person. This creates a double bind in the relationship, henceforth, the codependent and the dependent. Usually it takes years before the codependent realizes they will never get the love they seek. Or, the codependent notices a behavioral reinforceme...

By: Brian Murray, LMHC, NCC A codependent is a person who has an unhealthy relational attachment to another person. It is also referred to as relationship or love addiction. Codependency was born out of the addiction field as someone who is an enabler of an addicted person. They get this way as they believe there is something they fix, rescue or control that will translate into the love they so desperately seek. The addicted person takes advantage of this need by using the codependent as a resource. This “resourcing” is provided in many forms such as food, housing, and money just to name a few. The term codependent has since morphed into identifying anyone who remains involved in an unhealthy relationship. This unhealthy attachment is due to some underlying fear that they will lose love or ultimately be alone. Once these feelings materialize, the codependent begins to do things to control relational outcomes. Codependency is a learned behavior that typically stems from childhood ...