Codependency and alcoholismtranslated

Codependency is a painful relationship pattern. An invisible but destructive connection, where “help” becomes a cage for both. Codependency subtly replaces love, care, and attempts to help with control. In the context of alcohol addiction, this problem is especially insidious: it is hidden not in loud scandals, but in everyday routine - in the anxious anticipation of “whether he/she will return sober today,” in efforts to smooth out the consequences of a breakdown, in a desperate desire to maintain the appearance of a normal life.

Sometimes we admire the resilience of those who “pull” a dependent loved one on themselves, considering this a sign of devotion. But psychologists see a trap here: by saving another, the codependent is actually struggling with his anxiety and fear of being left alone.

In this material, together with psychologist Ilya Suslov, we will analyze how this painful tandem is formed, why attempts to “get out” a loved one often prevent him from recovering, and where there is a fine line between support and destructive rescue.

Ilya SUSLOV

clinical psychologist

What is “codependency”

Codependency is a pathological relationship with a dependent person. It can develop in different ways. Sometimes it's a voluntary choice...