This article deals with the important middle stage of codependency, where denial, painful emotions, and obsessive-compulsive behavioral patterns are prevalent. You increase attempts to control, while feeling more out of control. When in recovery, you reclaim independence, balance, and greater peace of mind.
The disease process of codependency
Without support, denial and isolation continue, and problems get worse. You may minimize and hide from yourself and other painful aspects of your relationship and withdraw from outside activities and friends. Meanwhile, your obsession with the relationship or addiction and accompanying anxiety, resentment, and guilt increase. You do more to help, enable, and control the other person or his or her addiction, and may even take over responsibilities that are not your own. As mood swings and conflict increase, some codependents turn to drugs, food, spending, or other addictive behavior to cope.The recovery process of codependency
The middle stage is where most of the work of recovery takes place. You begin to practice nonattachment and grasp your powerlessness over others and your addiction. As the focus on yourself grows, so do self-responsibility, self-awareness, and self-examination, which are part of psychotherapy and Twelve Step programs. Alcoholics Anonymous emphasizes that an alcoholic’s success in recovery is based upon rigorous self-honesty. This is also true for codependents and one of the Twelve Steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous.Blaming others and external circumstances denies your power to effect change and achieve happiness. Even if you’re a victim of abuse, you find the power to change your circumstances and responses when the center of control shifts from the perpetrator to yourself. Self-examination also includes working through childhood issues that may have led to your codependency.
Although insight about your behavior is necessary, it’s insufficient for change. Decisions, actions, and risk-taking are required during the middle stage. They happen when you’re ready, and they can’t be forced. It’s hard to change even when you know things would improve, like taking a better job or moving to a desirable area. Taking risks where the outcome is uncertain requires courage — courage to venture from discomfort that’s familiar into new territory. This is one reason why support is essential.
During the middle stage, you make new friends, participate in outside activities, and are able to be assertive and set boundaries. As you become more emotionally independent, you take better care of yourself, and reactivity, enabling, and controlling behavior diminish.The table shows the progression of codependency and recovery in the middle stage.
| Progression of Codependency | Recovery from Codependency |
|---|---|
| Denies/minimizes painful aspects of relationship | Understands powerlessness |
| Hides painful aspects of relationship from others | Begins reliance on a spiritual source |
| Anxiety, guilt, and self-blame increase | Begins to detach |
| Self-esteem lessens | Self-awareness grows |
| Withdraws from outside family and friends | Makes new friends |
| Obsessively watches the person and addiction | Develops outside activities |
| Tries to control by nagging, blaming, manipulation | Stops enabling and controlling |
| Anger and disappointment due to broken promises grows | Learns assertiveness |
| Feels resentment at inability to control the person | Takes responsibility for own self |
| Mood swings and increased conflict and violence occur | Increases self-care and self-esteem |
| Enables and manages the person’s responsibilities | Sets boundaries and becomes less reactive |
| Hides family secret (or addiction) | Has more emotional independence |
| Uses food, alcohol, drugs, shopping, or work to cope | Heals childhood wounds |
