Signs and Symptoms of Giving Too Much: Codependency Therapy

Signs and Symptoms of Giving Too Much: a power imbalance in a relationship does not mean that your partner is being overly demanding or abusive! When a relationship goes from balanced to imbalanced, it is rarely because one partner is actively seeking dominance over the other, and the imbalance generally occurs as a result of the actions of both people. The problem is usually subtle, at least in the early stages, and it is quite possible that neither of you will recognize what is going on. However, while it is important not to blame your partner, this is a serious situation which can have devastating effects on your self-esteem and self-image, and it needs to be corrected as soon as possible. In order to start fixing the problem, you must be able to recognize the symptoms. Start by asking yourself these basic questions:

• How often do we do what I want when we go out? What my partner wants?
• Do I feel that I get stuck with most of the housework?
• Does my partner seem to regularly leave messes (dirty laundry, used dishes) lying around, under the assumption that I will clean them up? Do I?
• How often do we spend time with my friends? With my partner’s friends?
• Does my partner ask questions to get input on what I want or want to do? Does he seem interested in my feedback to find out whether or not I enjoyed an activity?
• Does my partner seem willing to hear about my interests and activities in an open-minded, understanding way? Does he seem to realize that my interests are every bit as important to me as his interests are to him, and treat them accordingly?
• Does my partner ignore me when I ask him to do things?
• Does my partner sometimes poke fun at me in a way that he treats as joking, but I feel is genuinely hurtful? Does he do this in front of others?
• Does my partner automatically assume that his goals will take precedence over mine, without discussing it with me?
• When I have a problem, does my partner take me seriously? Does he address my problems in an understanding way, or see these problems as an intrusion on his life/free time?
• Have I spoken to my partner about the equality within our relationship? Do I find the thought of doing so to be difficult or uncomfortable?
• When I bring up concerns about our relationship, does my partner accuse me of getting too worked up or overreacting?
• Do we as a couple clearly devote more time and energy to my partner than myself?

These are just a few sample questions you can ask yourself to determine if equality within your relationship is a problem. Every relationship has a different dynamic, and some couples are comfortable having different amounts of control. But if the answers to the above questions bother you or just don’t feel right, you owe it to yourself to do something. Remember that your partner is not trying to hurt you, he may just not know how you feel. Most partners are willing to work on the problem with you once they are aware of it, and this is often a very fixable situation. Keep in mind that once problems begin, the relationship will become steadily more unbalanced if left unchecked, so it is important to tackle this problem as soon as you notice it.

For your convenience we have 5 physical offices and provide virtual therapy services in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Mexico and Virginia.Call us at 215-922-5683 Ext. 100 or self schedule an inperson or virtual therapy session.

• Ocean City Therapy Office
  360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226

• Mechanicsville Therapy Office
  9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116

• Society Hill Therapy Office
  233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106

• Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office
  2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130

• Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505

• Telemedicine: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia New Mexico and Pennsylvania

OUR GUARANTEE: you deserve the best codependency therapist possible. Our special sauce for helping you achieve your goal, begins with matching you with the right therapist. Check out our guarantee.

Codependency therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on individuals who have a pattern of putting the needs of others before their own and have difficulty establishing healthy boundaries. The goal of codependency therapy is to help individuals recognize and change their codependent behaviors, improve their self-esteem and develop healthy relationships. This may involve exploring past experiences and emotions, learning new communication and coping skills, and working on self-care and self-love. The therapy may be done in individual or group settings and can be combined with other approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Codependency & Therapy Poem:

I used to think love meant sacrifice, Putting others first, no matter the price. But it left me feeling drained and used, My self-worth and joy, forever bruised.

But then I learned about codependency, How I'd let others control my reality. I needed help to break these ties, To live my life and not just survive.

So I went to therapy, feeling scared, Not sure what I'd find, or if I'd be repaired. But with each session, I felt more light, As I learned to love and value my life.

I learned to set boundaries, to say no, To prioritize myself and let others go. I found a balance, a way to coexist, To be kind to others, but not resist.

So now I stand, with confidence and grace, Loving myself, and others, in a healthy place. And I know that therapy played a part, In healing my heart and changing my heart.

At The Center For Growth, we offer the following Codependency Therapy Services:

• Individual Counseling and therapy

• Couples Counseling and marriage counseling

• Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling

• Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling

• Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed

• ADHD Therapyand ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling

• Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support

• Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support

• Grief Therapy and loss, endings, rejections and therapy

• Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy

• Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support

• Shame Therapy

• Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling

• Divorce support

• Affairs counseling

• Parenting therapy

• Personality disorder treatments

• Anger management

• Just name some of the types of work that we do. All of our self help tips have been written by TCFG therapists. If you are struggling, and need help, call and speak with one of our therapists today.