Codependency is a serious relationship issue that can cause a lot of damage. Knowing the warning signs that you’re in a codependent relationship enables you to get help quickly.
Below are 10 Signs You’re in a Codependent Relationship
1. You Make a Lot of Sacrifices for Your Significant Other
You give up a lot of time, money, and commitments to please your partner. While putting someone else first occasionally isn’t a bad thing, giving up too much of yourself is a sign of trouble.
2. You Depend on His or Her Approval
Everybody likes to feel acknowledged for things they do. But if it gets to the point where you always feel let down or sad without your significant other’s praise, it could be a sign of codependency.
3. You Ignore Your Own Needs
Do you give up a slice of your favorite pizza or your beloved TV show, so your partner can have what he or she wants? If you do it often and feel resentful about it, that’s a bad sign.
4. You Have Parents that Were Difficult to Please
For some parents, nothing is ever good enough. If you spent a lot of time trying to win your parents’ approval and find yourself doing the same thing in your relationship, you’re repeating unhealthy patterns.
5. You’re Not Satisfied with Your Life Apart from Your Significant Other
Do you often feel bored or restless unless you’re with your SO? If he or she is the only thing that makes you happy, it may be time to reexamine the rest of your life. Soon your partner will feel this dependence and might lose interest in you.
6. You Ignore Your Partner’s Unhealthy or Abusive Behaviors
Does your partner get angry and yell a lot, but you tune it out? Do you ignore hurtful comments or lies? Ignoring bad behavior won’t make it go away, and it will probably get worse. Tell your partner not to smoke around you, if you can’t stand the smell of cigarettes. Sacrificial love always leads to tyranny and can harm your psyche. You must respect yourself and not let anyone to impose what to put up with.
7. You Support Your Partner at Great Cost to Your Own Needs
Helping your partner out in an emergency is a lot different than constantly supporting them. Whether it is financial or emotional, not having your needs met makes for an unhealthy relationship.
8. You Feel Conflicted When Trying to Be Independent
Part of you wants to go do things on your own, but you also don’t want to leave your partner. Not being able to have separate interests means your identities may blend too much for your own good.
9. Your Friends Are Telling You
One of the biggest warning signs of codependency is that your friends tell you it’s going on. Don’t ignore them or tell them they’re just jealous. True friends want what’s best for you.
10. You Feel a Great Deal of Anxiety
Relationships should make you happy, not fill you with anxiety. If you find yourself feeling stressed more often than not, take a look at what’s causing those feelings.
Conclusion
If you recognized yourself in one of these signs, think more clearly – maybe you are trapped into toxic bonds. The main goal of relationships is personal growth: you have to support each other and build a life that you want to live, not suffer.
You can lose yourself and forget to make your happiness a priority, thinking it’s all right. There is a lot of dirt we put up with because the pain certain relationships bring us is less aching than the pain of letting go.
There’s nothing wrong with admitting a relationship turned in the wrong direction, moreover, you’ll be able to see how toxic your connection was.
Lucky Ibeakanma says
I love your conclusion. Relations hips are not a bondage at all and if a relationship is becoming too toxic for personal growth, the parties involved can take a break or call it quits to regain their sanity. This is a nice read.