Codependency: Theories, Stages, and Impact on Individual Behavior

This essay provides an overview of codependency, a psychological construct characterized by an excessive emotional reliance on others, often linked to addiction or substance dependence. It defines codependency as a maladaptive behavior and explores Charles Whitfield's theories, which are rooted in family systems theory and highlight the dysfunctional dynamics within families affected by addiction. The essay outlines the progressive stages of codependency, from early romantic-like relationships to severe emotional and physical health impacts. It emphasizes that while complete recovery may not be possible, symptoms can be managed through professional help and therapy. The essay references key literature, including works by Whitfield, Lancer, and others, to support its discussion of the subject.

Running head: CODEPENDENCY
Codependency
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Codependency and its theories
Codependency is one of the highly contested construct featuring in popular literature,
academic research and in clinical arenas (Wegscheider-Cruse & Cruse, 2012). The term can be
defined by stating it is an extremely emotional reliance on an addiction in this context that
requires immense support. In another way, the ‘Co’ can be considered as ‘mutual’ or
‘togetherness’ and the other part of the term is ‘dependent’ that rightly justifies the term. Many
people tried to conceptualize the term ‘codependency’ as an illness or maladaptive behavior that
can be developed as a result of living with or being close to substance dependence.
Codependency can be said as an addiction disorder that results from people’s failed attempts to
control external things or events. Codependency can be seen as a disease noting the addictive
process. On the other hand, it can also be said that, codependency is a disease of a lost self and
after the recovery process the affected gets back or recovers his or her own self (Lancer, 2015).
Charles Whitfield’s theories were supported from the idea of an alcoholic family dynamic
where an alcoholic individual marries a person who is not chemically dependent on any
substances serves as a helper in, and also an inadvertent contributor to the maintenance of the
addicted individual’s problem of drinking (Amaro, 2012). The theories of codependency was
thus predicted by Whitfield from the related concepts of family system’s theory that might have
included the family homeostasis by interlocking the family pathology, marital pro quo, marital
codependency and one down marital relationships. On the other hand, the popular usage of the
term codependency among the commoners through some self help literature had positive
consequences to get the idea of codependency for Charles Whitfield.

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Codependency is generally characterized by the symptoms that vary on a continuum
similar to those who are engaged in drug addiction. the symptoms range from very mild to severe
forms of dependency, strange form of dysfunctional emotional responses, craving and most
importantly inability to control from compulsive behavior without the help of medical treatment.
Stages of Codependency
Codependency can be characterized as a disease with enduring symptoms which are
progressive, which means the symptoms, worsens as the time passes. According to Whitfield,
Codependency begins in the childhood because of a dysfunctional family (Amaro, 2012). As
children are generally dependent, the codependences cannot be diagnosed until they reach
puberty (Wegscheider-Cruse & Cruse, 2012). There are three basic stages to identify the
increasing dependence of any persons over anything. At the early stage the codependency might
look like any other romantic relationship, but with enhanced attention and dependency towards
the other partner. In the middle stage, it can be seen that the affected individual needs to put on
extra efforts to minimize the disastrous aspects of the relationship like anxiety, guilt and sort of
self blaming sets in the mind of the affected. the affected person might abuse or get obsessed
with the partner. The affected individual might abuse if he cannot control the external factors that
are affecting him. In the last stage, as opined by Charles Whitfield it is seen that the emotional
and behavioral symptoms starts to affect the physical health of the affected person and after
some years of treatment these things can get treated with professional help (Lancer, 2015).
Unfortunately, in for this disease, there are no such terms as complete recovery but with proper
medication and therapy, the symptoms can be suppressed for a longer period of time (Amaro,
2012).

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References
Amaro, L. M. (2012). Diagnosing Dr. House: Codependency, Agency, and Third Wave
Contradiction. Western Journal of Communication, 76(5), 520-535.
Lancer, D. (2015). Codependency for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons.
Wegscheider-Cruse, S., & Cruse, J. (2012). Understanding Codependency, Updated and
Expanded: The Science Behind It and How to Break the Cycle. Health Communications,
Inc..