1. Overcoming Co-Dependency in a Substance
Abuse Treatment Program
May 6, 2013
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 May, 2013 13:04
Being a codependent, your whole life is affected by the moods, feelings and opinions of others. The
constant need for approval and validation takes its toll on your life; emotionally and physically.
Codependency is one of the most destructive of human behaviors and affects ninety-eight percent of the
population.
Codependency is believed to be caused by dysfunctional family lives. Parents in these situations are
unable to meet their child’s needs. This leaves the child with a sense of emptiness which no one seems
to be able to fill. The resulting low self-esteem causes the child to grow up with a constant need to
please, putting their own needs behind the needs of others. This cycle affects every aspect of life, and
can even impact a person’s professional life. Codependency may also lead to other forms of addiction;
this is why it is so destructive.
Since everyone is different, an individualized treatment plan is crucial for success. As a recovering
codependent myself, I’ve found that the most effective method of treatment for me has been behavioral
therapy. Changing my own maladaptive thoughts to more realistic ways of thinking has boosted my
own self-esteem and showed me how severely flawed my own thoughts were.
The Key to Recovery
Recovering from codependency meant that I had to accept the fact that I had control over very little-
and that I was not responsible for those things.
Overcoming codependency is not an easy feat; but with treatment and support, it is possible
to manage the maladaptive feelings that contribute to your condition.
The key to overcoming this ailment is repairing your damaged sense of self. Repairing years of
emotional damage doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to heal and in most cases, the healing
process is a solitary journey. This means you’ll want to cut ties from toxic, enmeshed relationships. You
may decide to abstain from relationships entirely while you heal.
Secondly, you’ll want to become more aware of yourself and your patterns. Recognizing that you have
been pushing your own feelings aside in favor of gaining the acceptance of others is a key step in your
recovery.
Know Your Limits
During your recovery process, it is important to accept yourself and your limitations. Oftentimes
codependents strive for perfection so they can please everyone. You need to accept that you
can’t please everyone and be happy with what you can do. It is also important when you start to feel
sad or lonely, that instead of pushing those feelings aside, you do what you can to soothe yourself,
instead of being critical about your feelings.
Along with these new insights must come a course of action. Your behaviors need to reflect these new

2. attitudes. Setting boundaries is a big step that people often overlook. It’s important to set boundaries so
you don’t risk losing your sense of self again. Boundaries are a good way to remind yourself that you
come first.