Enabling & Codependency
Codependency and enabling have plagued numerous people throughout the world. The causes of these behavior patterns sometimes stem from troubled childhoods. However; healthy families are not immune to these issues.
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Features
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Codependency is a state brought about by discord in your relationships with yourself and others. Many codependents are attracted to and try to help people who have life issues such as alcoholics, drug abusers and controlling individuals. The attempt to save or even control the behavior of others is a symptom of codependency. Instead of "saving" the afflicted from their issues, codependents sometimes enable or feed into certain behaviors. For example, the parent of a child who doesn't want to work hard in school may complete homework and projects for that child -- thus enabling the child to continue slacking in school.
Effects
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Codependency and enabling can ruin lives and relationships. Codependents have a hard time building healthy relationships. Healthy relationships are vital parts of many people's lives. The act of enabling someone can rob them of their sense of responsibility and potentially feed into life-threatening habits.
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Prevention/Solution
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Help is available for codependents and their families. Codependents Anonymous is a voluntary 12-step program dedicated to helping people work through their codependent and subsequent enabling issues in a supportive environment. Meetings and literature are conducted by telephone, online and in neighborhoods throughout the world. Some people seek therapy to work through these issues.
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