How Social Anxiety
&
Codependency Work Together
(in a not so good way)…
Lets start with Codependency…What is it?
Codependency is characterized by obsessive patterns of enabling behaviors in love, sexuality and relationships that have harmful consequences for the codependent and their partners. Also many codependents have underlying issues with social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety or addictive behaviors that combine with codependency issues.
Although Codependency may sound less damaging than other issues, it shares many similarities to other addictions. The consequences of Codependency may include lost marriages, careers and child custody issues, as well as health problems. In some cases, stalking, domestic violence and homicide have been reported between codependents and narcissists.
Codependency is characteristically familiar with desperate hopes and seemingly unending fears and unhealthy attachments to others. Fearing rejection, pain and unfamiliar experiences, and having little faith in their ability or right to prompt loving relationships, they enable others.
To understand Codependency with social anxiety, agoraphobia and generalized anxiety, we need look no further than the relationships depicted in books, movies and songs. Our culture glorifies over responsible mothers or fathers and the pursuit of “the one” who will complete us and allow us to live happily ever after. While helping others can be a natural and healthy part of relationships, the Codependent pursues over responsibility and the “high” of seeming love without ever developing genuine intimacy and connection with their partners, food, their children and others.
Symptoms of Codependency (without social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety)
Codependency isn’t entirely about an endless enabling behaviors. Some Codependents sabotage good relationships for fear of getting too close. Others are in unhealthy relationships but cannot let go. While one Codependent may be desperate and needy, the other may be controlling and manipulative.
Causes of Codependency with and without social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety
The causes of Codependency and social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety are complex and typically rooted in early life experiences in childhood around the age of 9-14 years old. The most prominent factors that contribute to Codependency are childhood neglect or abandonment, rejection, and physical, emotional or sexual abuse and conditioning a child with over responsibility.
As a result of insecure attachments in childhood, Codependents may lack confidence and a sense of self. In adolescence or adulthood, they may feel insecure in their bonds with other people and struggle to establish appropriate boundaries for themselves and with others. The pursuit of the love may allow the Codependent individual to escape into fantasy rather than tolerate a painful reality including being in relationships with addicts and narcissists.
Physiological changes may also contribute to Codependency. Levels of hormones (PEA)—a chemical in the brain involved in the euphoria that comes with love—rise with feelings of infatuation, boosting euphoria and excitement. Codependency may become dependent upon the physical and psychological arousal triggered by PEA and other brain chemicals.
Treatment for Codependency (and social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety)
In the past decade, experts have begun to recognize Codependency as a distinct and treatable problem. As a result, treatment options have expanded to include individual, group and family/couples counseling, 12-Step support groups such as (CODA) Codependents Anonymous, outpatient programs, psychotherapy and residential treatment centers.
During some less successful treatments, the Codependent will typically be asked to abstain from relationships for a specified time period (unless this is not possible). This break allows them to focus on the underlying issues and any co-occurring problems such as social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety. Because Codependency often stems from childhood abuse or abandonment, trauma work can be an integral part of the treatment plan.
The goals of Codependency treatment include building healthy relationships, setting appropriate boundaries and achieving genuine intimacy. Codependents learn to move beyond an obsession with enabling, over protection, romance and fantasy and embrace the realities of mature, authentic loving in a relationship. More on social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety on other pages of this site.
For the Codependency Treatment method I recommend click here:
http://codependency-treatment.weebly.com/
Codependency is characterized by obsessive patterns of enabling behaviors in love, sexuality and relationships that have harmful consequences for the codependent and their partners. Also many codependents have underlying issues with social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety or addictive behaviors that combine with codependency issues.
Although Codependency may sound less damaging than other issues, it shares many similarities to other addictions. The consequences of Codependency may include lost marriages, careers and child custody issues, as well as health problems. In some cases, stalking, domestic violence and homicide have been reported between codependents and narcissists.
Codependency is characteristically familiar with desperate hopes and seemingly unending fears and unhealthy attachments to others. Fearing rejection, pain and unfamiliar experiences, and having little faith in their ability or right to prompt loving relationships, they enable others.
To understand Codependency with social anxiety, agoraphobia and generalized anxiety, we need look no further than the relationships depicted in books, movies and songs. Our culture glorifies over responsible mothers or fathers and the pursuit of “the one” who will complete us and allow us to live happily ever after. While helping others can be a natural and healthy part of relationships, the Codependent pursues over responsibility and the “high” of seeming love without ever developing genuine intimacy and connection with their partners, food, their children and others.
Symptoms of Codependency (without social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety)
Codependency isn’t entirely about an endless enabling behaviors. Some Codependents sabotage good relationships for fear of getting too close. Others are in unhealthy relationships but cannot let go. While one Codependent may be desperate and needy, the other may be controlling and manipulative.
Causes of Codependency with and without social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety
The causes of Codependency and social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety are complex and typically rooted in early life experiences in childhood around the age of 9-14 years old. The most prominent factors that contribute to Codependency are childhood neglect or abandonment, rejection, and physical, emotional or sexual abuse and conditioning a child with over responsibility.
As a result of insecure attachments in childhood, Codependents may lack confidence and a sense of self. In adolescence or adulthood, they may feel insecure in their bonds with other people and struggle to establish appropriate boundaries for themselves and with others. The pursuit of the love may allow the Codependent individual to escape into fantasy rather than tolerate a painful reality including being in relationships with addicts and narcissists.
Physiological changes may also contribute to Codependency. Levels of hormones (PEA)—a chemical in the brain involved in the euphoria that comes with love—rise with feelings of infatuation, boosting euphoria and excitement. Codependency may become dependent upon the physical and psychological arousal triggered by PEA and other brain chemicals.
Treatment for Codependency (and social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety)
In the past decade, experts have begun to recognize Codependency as a distinct and treatable problem. As a result, treatment options have expanded to include individual, group and family/couples counseling, 12-Step support groups such as (CODA) Codependents Anonymous, outpatient programs, psychotherapy and residential treatment centers.
During some less successful treatments, the Codependent will typically be asked to abstain from relationships for a specified time period (unless this is not possible). This break allows them to focus on the underlying issues and any co-occurring problems such as social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety. Because Codependency often stems from childhood abuse or abandonment, trauma work can be an integral part of the treatment plan.
The goals of Codependency treatment include building healthy relationships, setting appropriate boundaries and achieving genuine intimacy. Codependents learn to move beyond an obsession with enabling, over protection, romance and fantasy and embrace the realities of mature, authentic loving in a relationship. More on social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety on other pages of this site.
For the Codependency Treatment method I recommend click here:
http://codependency-treatment.weebly.com/