Codependency — For Dummies

The authoritative guide on this topic is by Darlene Lancer . Core Symptoms

Feeling "not good enough" or comparing yourself to others.

Difficulty distinguishing your feelings and responsibilities from others'.

An intense need to be liked and a fear of saying "no".

Codependency is a learned behavior where a person sacrifices their own needs to care for or control another, often resulting in a loss of self-identity . Originally linked to addiction recovery, it is now understood as a broad "relationship addiction" rooted in low self-esteem and dysfunctional family dynamics.

Codependency often manifests through these primary behavioral pillars: