Have you ever felt responsible for someone else’s happiness? Do you find yourself constantly trying to fix, rescue, or protect someone you love, even when it comes at the expense of your own emotional health? Loving someone is healthy. Losing yourself in the process is not. Many people confuse sacrificial love with codependency. While Scripture…

During the MeToo movement, several celebrities disclosed their personal battles with codependency. However, codependency is not just a celebrity problem. It can characterize many relationships. While not a mental health disorder, codependency is dysfunctional and unhealthy — something we need to eliminate in our relationships. Healthy relationships are built on interdependency, a mutual responsibility to…

One of the things that stopped me from being a rebellious teen was, I wanted to please my dad. I thought the world of my father and his words of validation were so important. My need to please him was a good thing as long as it didn’t usurp my sense of self or become…

Jenny loves Rick, but is showing signs of  codependency. She needs Rick’s approval and basis her sense of identity on his reactions. She feels she must care for him at all costs in order to be worthy of his love. When a problem arises, she doesn’t confront because she worries he won’t love her or respond well.…

More from Beliefnet and our partners
More from Beliefnet and our partners