Codependency and addiction are sometimes considered to be two sides of the same coin. While each is a diagnosis in itself, both can stand alone, and treatment experts can address them independently. Addiction treatment centers that specialize in dual diagnosis can evaluate both conditions and provide a customized treatment plan that takes care of both.
When a person is diagnosed with both codependency and addiction, multiple treatment options are necessary. If you’re struggling with addiction and codependency, reach out to Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.457.7590. Learn how a dual diagnosis treatment center can help you overcome addiction and codependency and take back control of your life.
What Is Codependency?
Codependency is a dynamic that often occurs between two people when one has an addiction. In the relationship, one person has an unhealthy reliance on the other, while the other person has a need to be needed and will do whatever it takes to try to please their partner. This creates a cycle of codependent behavior that can be difficult to break.
Examples of codependent behavior associated with addiction include:
- Making excuses for the behavior of their addicted partner
- Feeling responsible for their partner’s well-being and happiness
- Neglecting one’s own needs in order to take care of their partner’s addiction
- Becoming overly involved in trying to manage or control their partner’s addictive behaviors
- Becoming excessively anxious, worried, or fearful about their partner’s addiction and its consequences
Codependency can be hard to recognize, but it is important to understand so that you can find healthy ways of addressing it. Identifying the signs of codependency with an addiction is a critical first step in breaking this dysfunctional cycle and seeking help for yourself and your loved one.
The Correlation Between Codependency and Addiction
When a person is codependent, their intense need to be wanted or loved will begin to dictate their actions. When it comes to a personal relationship, the patient may go to great lengths to please the other person. They will do this even to their own detriment, if necessary. If the codependency is related to drugs or alcohol, the patient may go so far as to steal or commit a crime to get what they need.
This type of behavior is not uncommon and will result in disaster if not the person does not treat it properly. For some, especially those with depression, it can be challenging to be completely self-sufficient. That is why they try so hard to keep others in their lives. When it comes to addiction, the drugs take away the pain and frustration of being alone. Codependency is a way for the patient to feel needed and, at the same time, feel satisfied.
Codependency and addiction create a vicious cycle. Either one on its own can lead a person to do more and more to get what they want. If they begin to feel as if they are no longer needed, they may go to extreme measures to continue to get the things they desire. If what they want is drugs, they will not stop until they can get the high that takes away their pain. The cycle that starts with one or two small acts can turn into a vicious cycle that takes away the person’s independence and isolates them in a world of self-doubt and confusion.
The Benefits of Getting Help for Addiction and Codependency
Getting help for addiction and codependency can have numerous positive benefits. Here are some key advantages of seeking treatment for this co-occurring disorder:
Improved Mental and Physical Health
Both addiction and codependency can lead to deteriorating mental and physical health caused by the negative effects of substance abuse or enabling behaviors. Co-occurring disorder treatment gives individuals the opportunity to make healthier lifestyle choices that will improve their overall well-being.
Increased Self-Awareness
Treatment helps individuals become more aware of their own behavior, including how they interact with other people and influence situations around them. Additionally, this greater level of awareness can also allow an individual to better understand the intricacies of their relationships in order to build stronger connections with others.
Enhanced Social Skills
Treatment for addiction and codependency can help individuals make healthier connections with their peers and family members, as well as develop improved communication skills.
Better Problem-Solving Abilities
As individuals gain more insight into the underlying issues of addiction and codependency, they are able to find better ways to cope with problems that arise in their lives. This can result in a greater ability to solve complex issues without relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or enabling behaviors.
Improved Quality of Life
Finally, co-occurring disorder treatment provides individuals with the tools necessary to lead more rewarding lives by addressing both the mental and physical health aspects of addiction and codependency. With the help of treatment, individuals can start to make healthier decisions that will allow them to find joy and fulfillment.
Get the Help You Need at Red Oak Recovery®
Red Oak Recovery® offers the help you need to overcome your addiction and codependency. If codependency is something that you or a loved one continually deals with, it’s especially important to seek treatment. Call 866.457.7590 or fill out our online contact form to start taking the steps you need to take in order to get your life back.
