​

​

When it comes to codependent relationships, there are always red flags and warning signs abundant. The problem, however, is that both the parties involved are often so hurt and stuck in the traumas of their past that they don’t even realize they’re also trapping themselves in a toxic cycle of pain and abandonment.

The warning signs of a codependent relationship are always clear, but they’re not always heeded. If you or someone you know is manifesting one of these symptoms, they might be struggling with a codependent relationship.

​

Putting in the extra work.

​

One of the first signs of a codependent relationship is a gradual shifting of responsibilities into a one-sided affair. Slowly, one person will start filling in the gaps and taking on the responsibilities of the other person in order to stay connected or prove their worth. As the first partner pulls back their time, effort, love or attention, the other partner instinctively gives more, picking up the pieces and committing to something that clearly shouldn’t work.

​

A loss of boundaries.

​

Often, a codependent person fails to grasp the importance of boundaries. As they compromise more and more of themselves, they begin to believe that this over-giving is what it takes to “make things work”. They start to view their boundaries as a thing that must be sacrificed on the altar of their partner’s happiness and that leads to a codependent trap that’s hard to crawl out of.

​

A need to “fix” the other party.

​

While a codependent relationship can start out like a fairy tale, it soon descends into the unhealthy trap that we recognize all-too-well. Healthy relationships are formed when both parties mutually respect one another, but in the codependent relationship that just isn’t the case. One partner always sees the need to “fix” the other party and that’s a hill that just isn’t worth dying on.

​

A loss of independence.

​

According to Erika Ettin, dating coach and founder of dating site A Little Nudge, loss of independence is another big warning sign of a codependent relationship. “In any relationship,” she told Business Insider, “it’s important to both bond with your partner but also maintain your own life. You don’t want to become so dependent on someone else that you lose who you are, or that essence that makes you unique…when you’re doing things on your own, you become a more interesting, well-rounded person, thereby a better partner to anyone.”

​

A need to ask permission.

​

If you’ve found yourself in relationship in which you feel as though you need to ask “permission” to do the things you want to do — you might be dealing with a codependent relationship. Being controlled by our partners or loved ones to this extent causes you to doubt yourself and your self worth. Making autonomous choices is a part of the human experience and one that should never be stifled for another person.

​

Losing contact with important loved ones.

​

Relationships that cause us to lose touch with the friends and family are toxic. Losing contact with those who are important is a sign that something isn’t right, and it’s often a sign that something sinister is brewing beneath the surface. Un-mooring from the anchors in our life can cause us to lose our sense of authentic self and it can also undermine our strength and self-confidence.

​

Why codependent people stay (despite the warning signs).

​

There are a plethora of reasons people choose to stay in dysfunctional and codependent relationships, and those reasons can differ from case to case. There are, however, a few foundational reasons we stay in relationships that do more harm than good and they range from childhood trauma to deep-seated insecurities.

​

#1-  A delusional idea of love.

​

Those of us who grew up with Baby Boomer mothers, will know the in’s and out’s of this codependent reasoning all too well. One of the biggest factors that goes into staying in a toxic or codependent relationship is a powerful feeling of love and concern. The issue with this, however, is that this ideal of love is often a delusional one — based around romance and the idea of self-sacrifice as a noble exercise in superiority.

Most codependents picked up these delusional views of love and romance as children, where they saw love and abuse go commonly hand-in-hand. Over time, they came to internalize this type of behavior as commitment, causing them to expect abuse, manipulation and all-around nastiness to be par for the relationship course.

Though they have valid concerns about what will happen to them, they are unable to put their concern for self over their concern for their partner. They worry that if they separate themselves from their abusers, they will suffer harsh consequences or cause the other party to lose their own way. Over and over again, they rescue and enable out of a perceived sense of love or guilt, but they never get the real love they were seeking in return.

​

#2- Dreams of change.

​

Our hope is a powerful motivator. Many codependents dedicate themselves to a broken partner or ally because they believe in the hope that the other party can and will change with the right encouragement. They don’t see people as people — they see them as projects — and this is thanks to their overwhelming and often irrational sense of hope, which is always misdirected and always based in ideology, rather than reality.

It’s hard to give up when you’ve invested a lot into someone, but it’s not possible to change other people — they have to change themselves.

Every relationship (even the dysfunctional ones) have their ups and downs. While the good memories can keep the hope alive, it’s important to embrace the reality of a toxic relationship with a radical sense of acceptance. Holding onto hope that partner will change is no guarantee that they will or can. These dreams of change are often precisely what keep the codependent chained to a fantasy that can never exist.

​

#3- A sense of being overwhelmed.

​

Not all codependents stay out of a sense of fear or guilt or even shame. Some codependent people find themselves stuck in relationships that are damaging simply because they are overwhelmed by the idea of seeing things clearly.

Codependent relationships are high-stress and high-anxiety situations that can leave us strung out and struggling to function through our normal day-to-day tasks. This constantly feeling of pressure can leave the codependent party in a constant state of overwhelm, making it impossible to seek outside help or even look within for some sort of resolution.

​

#4- They’re being manipulated.

​

It’s no mistake that the codependent person often finds themselves entangled with abusive, narcissistic and even addicted people. These are the types who know how to charm their victims at the outset, using it as a perfect cover for their dark and manipulative side. They are the kind of people that get what they want at any cost and they see in the codependent a possibility to satiate those desires.

Codependent people don’t always stick around because they want to. They often stick around because they’re being manipulated.

Narcissists and abusers have an uncanny way of making the C.D. person believe that the issues in the relationship or partnership are their fault. As things start to unwind, they slowly shift the blunt of the blame onto their partner, making them more dependent and undermining their sense of worth by maximizing existing feelings of guilt and shame.

​

#5- Feelings of fear.

​

For the codependent, fear is a regular bedfellow. Fear manifests in the life of a C.D. person in a number of ways. They fear for their own safety, but they also fear for the safety of their friends, family and partners. They are told repeatedly that they aren’t good enough or are unworthy of love, so they fear too being alone and unwanted forever.

The manipulator or abuser that finds themselves attached to a codependent person will use this fear to keep them trapped, compounding an already established sense of worthlessness that continues to grow and change over time. For many codependents, it’s this overwhelming sense of fear that keeps them stuck in a situation that is less than ideal. That fear can be impossible to overcome without some radical changes inside and out.

​

#6-Low self-esteem.

​

It will surprise no one that a low self-esteem contributes frequently to the turbulent relationships of the codependent person.

Many codependent people grew up in dysfunctional homes in which physical, emotional and even sexual abuse was common.

Because of this, they rise into their adulthood carrying the burden of low self-esteem and a feeling of worthlessness that often pervades into other facets of their personalities. The more abuse they suffer over a lifetime, they more they believe they deserve this abuse. It’s a never-ending cycle of self-defeat and hopelessness that takes time (and a lot of therapy) to overcome.

​

#7- A sense of guilt.

​

As the majority of codependents are desperate people-pleasers, they are often motivated by a sense of guilt to stay in a relationship they would be better off exiting. Because they are so desperate for love and affection, they work exceedingly hard to avoid conflict, doing everything they can to keep those around them happy and comfortable — no matter the personal cost.

On the rare occasion that they do try to leave, the codependent person experiences an overwhelming attack of guilt, falling into the shadow of misplaced responsibility and taking on and internalizing the errors of those around them (thus nobly eliminating the suffering of those they love, but not their own).

Even when they see that they aren’t the root cause of the problem, they still worry that others will blame them; taking on the shame and the guilt before someone can cast it on to them. The codependent person lives in constant fear of judgement, scolding or just plain shame so they live their life at the behest of other, avoiding the guilt that was never theirs in the first place.

The addicted or narcissistic partner can see this conflict and sense of guilt from a mile away and will use it — frequently — to get the upper hand on / take advantage of their partner. That feeling of doing something wrong can be incredibly damaging to the people pleaser. It’s important to notice the triggers and stop the guilt before it can undermine your sense of self.

​

#8- Feeling ashamed.

​

Growing up in a dysfunctional family teaches you to keep the darkest secrets of the people around you in a way that causes you to internalize that shame. For those of us who grew up in the midst of emotional chaos, keeping secrets was a matter of survival, and that guilt and that shame is something that never goes away, no matter how old you get or how far you might run.

Shame makes it hard to ask for help, so the codependent person often finds themselves in a negative feedback loop of isolation and hopelessness. Being unable to speak honestly and openly about their feelings, they are unable to validate the dangers in their environment and therefore unable to see that it is not themselves who is internally flawed.

In order to break free of toxic relationships, it’s necessary to reach out and break the code of silence that permeates dangerous and toxic partnerships. Codependent people are often too afraid to let other people know how badly they are being treated (thanks to their unqualified sense of shame) but that’s the first step in getting help and getting free of the hellish pain of codependency.

​