The term codependent personality is used to describe a person who is intensely focused on the needs of others, causing harmful or unhealthy effects. Codependent people generally tend to ignore their own needs and take care of friends, family, and others. Although caring for others is often a good trait, a codependent personality is unable to know when to let others solve problems on their own. He or she may also have a hard time ending abusive or unhealthy relationships. Treatment, such as psychotherapy and medication, is generally recommended to prevent other conditions from developing, such as addiction, panic disorders, and eating disorders.
One situation where codependency often causes problems is in a parent-child relationship. Although caring for a child's needs is important, if a parent does too much, the child may not learn to be independent. Codependency can also become a problem when a codependent person takes care of another who has an addiction problem; in this case, the codependent person can become a facilitator, facilitating the addictive behavior to continue.
In some cases, codependent relationships can also be mentally or physically abusive. In these cases, the codependent person is often unwilling or unable to stop the abuse. A person with a codependent personality can have unhealthy relationships in all aspects of his life.
There are a number of personality traits that are typical of a codependent personality. Denial, or the refusal to accept or acknowledge problems, and low self-esteem are two qualities that codependents often display. Because they may have a hard time putting themselves first, codependents are often ignored for promotions at work and are likely to ignore their own medical problems or illnesses. A codependent personality may also have difficulty making decisions, may participate in activities that they do not enjoy to make other people happy, and may often offer unsolicited advice.
Seeing a counselor or psychologist to work through codependency is a treatment option, which can sometimes be combined with medication. Other therapies similar to the 12-step program used by organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous might also be helpful for a codependent personality. Several self-help books have also been written on the subject.
If left untreated, codependency can sometimes lead to other problems. Social anxiety, panic disorders, eating disorders, and addiction are some examples of self-destructive behavior that can result from this personality disorder. Codependent people can also suffer from depression or other stress-related problems.