Codependency and Setting Healthy Boundaries
Many people find themselves caught in patterns of codependency and people pleasing that lead them to feel exhausted and drained rather than fulfilled in their relationships with others. In my many years of experience working with women and teenage girls, I often see co-dependent patterns in people with various backgrounds and circumstances; however, these patterns are very common in victims of physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal abuse, victims of neglect, teenage or adult children of a parent addicted to drugs or alcohol, those who have grown up with a parent who is narcissistic, and people who have grown up seeing co-dependent traits and inconsistent/non-existent boundaries modeled in parents or other family members.
A few signs that you might be struggling with co-dependent traits are if you:
-Seek the approval of others for your own self-esteem needs
-Constantly prioritize the needs and desires of others over your own to the point where you feel drained, overwhelmed, and exhausted and your own needs are left unmet.
-Struggle with saying “no”.
-Constantly take on the problems and responsibilities of others and make them your own problems and responsibilities.
-Struggle with separating the emotions of others from your own emotions.
If you are struggling with establishing healthy boundaries and healthy relationships with others or if you believe any of these traits are negatively impacting your life, I would love to help you as you reflect on your own needs, desires, and limits in life, identify areas in your life where there may be non-existent or inconsistent boundaries, and establish the boundaries that help you live with less anxiety regarding your relationships with others and life in general. I offer face to face therapy sessions through secure video telehealth services throughout the state of Mississippi at times that are convenient for teenage girls and women who need to access therapy after work or school. Call 601-708-9558 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.