Do you know how codependency is fueling your depression? Did you know that depression is often a symptom of codependency? If not, you’re not alone. Most people who are codependent don’t realize they may have chronic depression.
That’s because the symptoms are usually mild. But, they can become worse over time as your codependency continues to fuel that depression.
People with severe depression might have problems doing something as simple as getting out of bed in the morning. If you have depression due to codependency, you’re more likely to see signs of it in the form of fatigue, sadness, or low self-esteem.
How exactly does codependency fuel depression, and what can you do about it?
How Do You Know You’re Codependent?
You may not realize how much codependency fuels your depression if you aren’t aware of it in the first place. However, there are some common signs that a person is codependent, including:
- Low self-esteem
- Persistent people-pleasing
- Emotionally reactive
- Obsessing over what another person is doing
- Willing to overlook destructive behaviors and habits in another person
- Always needing to be in a relationship
If any of those signs sound like you, you could be dealing with codependency. Once the symptoms are identified, it can often become clearer why it’s easy for depression to grow and thrive in codependent people.
Codependent relationships are often intense and fueled by emotions. That can make it difficult to separate reality from what you’re feeling. For example, if you have a partner that treats you poorly or cheats on you, you might make up excuses for them or think things “aren’t that bad” because you’re afraid of losing them.
Unfortunately, those falsehoods you tell yourself serve as food for your depression and cause it to worsen. If that relationship ends, the depression can become even worse and cause you to become anxious. You might feel the need to get into another relationship immediately, which only continues the cycle.
Codependency and Depression; So What Can You Do?
If you recognize yourself as codependent and you already struggle with depression, there are a few things you can do to stop the cycle and focus on your mental health.
Most importantly, don’t wait to seek out professional help if you feel like your depression is out of control. In some cases, depression can lead to thoughts of self-harm. If you can see that you’re heading down that path or things feel genuinely hopeless, talking with a therapist can help you manage your symptoms of depression and work on freedom from codependency.
Additionally, start taking care of yourself. Codependency can cause a lack of self-esteem. By practicing self-care each day, you can boost your esteem and feel better about who you are on your own. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Lean on friends and family for support, and talk to them regularly about how you’re feeling.
Codependency and Depression; What to Avoid
Codependency and depression don’t just magically go away. They may both be something you have to work on managing for a very long time actively. With that in mind, there are a few things to avoid to keep your codependency from triggering your depression.
Most importantly, don’t isolate yourself from family and friends who love you. One of the biggest mistakes people with codependency make is believing they are weak. Focus on your strengths instead.
Additionally, work on yourself and manage your depression and codependency before getting into another relationship. Make sure you’re ready to be yourself, and you feel good about who you are before letting someone else in.
—
Codependency and depression are two “friends” you don’t want to have to deal with forever. By recognizing how being codependent can make your depression worse and doing what you can to manage it, you can break free from that emotional turmoil and be happy with who you are.
Please reach out to me today for support or visit my Addiction Intervention page to learn more about my services.