7 Subtle Differences Between Intimacy and Codependence
Learn to never confuse the two
"Codependent" is the term that was initially coined to describe the partners of people suffering from various addictions, such as alcoholism. While the alcoholic was dependent on alcohol, his partner was said to be codependent, as she was fully consumed by her bond with this person and all her efforts were aimed at trying to save him, despite the pain the relationship caused.
However, over time the use of the term was broadened to generally include people who violate another's boundaries in relationships and are unable to maintain their own. Codependent traits develop typically due to hostile or otherwise unhealthy dynamics in the family of origin, and are a lot more common in romantic relationships than people may realize.
If you're codependent, the cornerstone feature of your personality is the tendency to emotional enmeshment, that is, an inability to distinguish between your feelings and those of another. In a codependent relationship, the boundary between the emotional experiences of the two people is blurred, such that you end up emotionally "merging" with your partner and assuming ownership for feelings that aren't yours. A codependent person's focus is always fixated on the external circumstances and people; they never look inward and view…
