How to Connect Addiction and Codependency

Addiction is a common condition in modern society that becomes more common every day. No longer the shameful condition it used to be, addiction is talked about in many circles, and treatment options are available. Codependency is a lesser-known condition, often connected with addiction. Here's how they fit together.

Instructions

1. Define codependency. Traditionally, codependency was defined in relationship to addiction. Codependency is a condition often seen in children and spouses of addicts. The term codependent came from the relationship between the addict, who is dependent on a substance, and the people in his life, who are dependent on the addict being an addict.

2. See a relationship. In relation to addiction, codependency is like a secondary addiction. A codependent is addicted to an addict. This means that a person enables the addict's addictive behavior because the codependent needs to play the caretaker role. Despite the harm caused to the codependent by this behavior model, she becomes locked into the dysfunctional relationship.

3. Follow the path of recovery. A majority of addicts in recovery discover that they're codependent, too. Once the layer of addiction is peeled away, the underlying codependency is apparent. The prevalence of this phenomenon suggests that a codependent, say the child of an alcoholic, can develop into an addict over time.

4. Examine self-esteem issues. There are many causes for addiction and many relationship models that result in codependency. One common factor is a lack of self-esteem. Whether the addict and the codependent start out with low self-esteem or it's eroded by the evolution of these conditions, a lack of self-esteem is always present.