When does helping become co-dependency?

At what point does helping turn into co-dependency?  Helping others does create those positive feelings.  Helping makes us all feel good about what we’re doing. But for the co-dependent person, helping can quickly become out of control as you spend your time trying to control the alcoholic/addict in your life.  The control may be in the form of blaming, punishing or coercing, to name a few.  This behavior quickly turns into enabling.  This becomes your way of getting the alcoholic/addict in your life to do what you think is best for them.  Often there is little regard for that person’s wishes or desires because, as you (the co-dependent) take control, you feel you know what they need or what is best for them.

Tags: co-dependency, co-dependent relationship