Is it codependency or simply a desire to be connected? Although these concepts may sound similar to each other, they are vastly different. Having a secure connection is the ability to balance a healthy exploration of the world around us with a relationship we can return to when there is a need to be held, supported, or celebrated by the other person.
Codependency typically involves an obsession on the part of one or both individuals to control the other’s behaviour. For an individual to gain control, boundaries are often crossed on a regular basis. The need for control usually develops out of insecurity and can come at a great cost to the individuals involved. For example, one person might think, “If I do this, then they won’t leave me,” which leads to a pattern of overextending and feeling burnt out because they are ignoring their own needs. Overall, there is a chronic sense of being unsure where one person ends and another person begins.
A large portion of our time is spent in conversation with others. Regardless of our familiarity with the other person or the purpose for the discussion, it can sometimes be difficult to achieve clarity and understanding across both parties. Perhaps this is why difficulty communicating is one of the top complaints of those seeking therapy.
We’ve all tried to avoid confrontation or felt we couldn’t directly express our thoughts and feelings to someone, which can sometimes cause us to act in ways that are passive aggressive. Like most personality traits, passive aggressiveness occurs along a continuum from mild to severe characteristics. While we may be passive aggressive from time to time, there are those who…
Going through the ups and downs of life is just that - life! Sometimes we assume the struggles and pain we experience on a day-to-day basis are normal, deserved, or not as bad as we think. It can be difficult to know when it's time to let go of the reins and seek help navigating the dark spots. The following list includes several reasons someone could seek out therapy.
