Codependency is an emotional and behavioural condition that leads to imbalanced relationships. In codependent relationships, there is often one individual enabling another’s self-destructive behaviour, such as substance abuse, poor mental health and coping skills, immaturity, and under-achievement. Codependency can lead to individuals staying in unhealthy or abusive relationships because they feel as though they cannot live without the other person. 

Signs of a codependency include: 

• Focusing on other people and helping others, even at a personal expense 
• Self-criticism 
• Extreme sense of responsibility 
• Intense feelings of guilt and/or shame
• Absorbing the feelings of others 
• People pleasing; fear of disappointment 
• Difficulty setting boundaries 
• Numbing emotions with substances 
• Challenges with intimacy 
• Perfectionist tendencies 
• Controlling behaviours 

A psychologist can help identify the root cause of the codependency and identify harmful patterns in order to overcome the codependent behaviours.