Codependent Relationships: Bonds that Hurt

Emotional dependency can turn into a real problem. When your life revolves completely around another person, when you no longer have any space to yourself, it’s time to consider cutting free from the chains.

Codependency is a kind of love that really hurts. Ironic, isn’t it? Something as wonderful as loving another person can suddenly become a horrible ordeal.

This happens when you attach yourself to other people in a way that’s unhealthy. You might not yet be aware of the fact that no person can truly belong to you, because from the time you’re small you learn about a kind of “property.” Now you think you belong to another person, and vice versa. This is something that you must start to change.

Codependent relationships: when love hurts

In every relationship between two people there will be conflict. This is entirely natural and a part of growing together.

But when your partner starts to be the center of your world, when you develop the kind of dependence that prevents you from living a normal life, that’s when you know you’re facing a real problem.

You can’t depend on anyone else in your life; all you have is yourself. To put something like that in the hands of someone else is almost like suicide. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the characteristics of codependent relationships and people:

• Their self-esteem depends on what their partner does or does not tell them.
• They assume responsibilities that go far beyond what’s considered normal duty to try to meet the needs of their partner.
• There’s an absence of the boundaries between yourself and your partner.
• You don’t ever contradict what your partner says out of fear of rejection.
• When one relationship ends, it’s immediately followed by another.

If you’ve ever felt like you identify with some of these aspects, you have probably experienced or been close to suffering from emotional dependence.

Loosen the ties that bind you

You know when you grab on to a rope so it doesn’t slip out of your hand? When that loose rope escapes, the damage and pain you feel is just like what you’re doing to yourself now!

This same thing is happening in your head. You’ve bound yourself to someone in a relationship that’s not providing you with any benefits. It’s not easy to release that bond, because sometimes you can be a bit masochistic and prefer to endure the excruciating pain that holding on is causing you.

If you’re not sure whether to release the person or not, or if you know you need to let go but don’t feel ready or able to do it, now is a good time to get it done once and for all.

But… will this make you happy? Being free will be a wonderful situation, but it might not make you happy at first; it hurts. Still, you can’t allow yourself to continue to die in their care, you have to break free. Only you are holding on to that pain; no one is forcing you, except yourself.

Take control of your life

The liberation you’ll feel is indescribable. You’ll be filled with inner peace. Now you’ll be able to see that your fears, insecurities, and low self-esteem have vanished because you allowed the other person to be completely in charge of your respect.

It’s clear that right now you have fears and insecurities. You might be struggling with low self-esteem and entirely trust the person that you hold in the highest regard. However, if you dare to return the page and start healing, you can move on.

Of course, it’s difficult to take this step. So if you need it, seek help. A psychologist can always help you gather the strength you need to put your inner world in order.

Sometimes love can be like a drug. It’s normal to think about your partner and want to be with them at all times… but codependent relationships are harmful and humiliating if you can’t continue to be yourself.

And what if your partner leaves? Perhaps you immediately look for a substitute or replacement. This is a serious problem because you don’t know how to be alone! You need this drug that makes you feel good, even if you have to grovel to get it.

Seek help instead, talk it out and open your eyes to reality. It will hurt, you’ll suffer (although, weren’t you already suffering?), and you won’t feel like yourself. You’ll pass through withdrawal syndromes and you’ll be yourself again.

Learn to be alone, make peace with the loneliness. You don’t need to feel insecure and alone in this world. You are your best companion.