codependent behaviors

At its core, codependency is characterized by an excessive need for approval from others, poor boundaries when dealing with others, low self-esteem and difficulty saying ‘no’ (DiClemente & Khantzian, 1985). People who are codependent tend to take responsibility for other people’s emotions and actions while neglecting their own needs. This creates an imbalance where one person has too much control over the other—which can lead to unhealthy consequences such as anger or guilt (Ullrich, 2020).