Emotional independence depends on one side. People who are completely self-sufficient could reject all emotional help, preferring to take care of their emotional needs independently, or even completely disregard them. Co-dependent relationships, the healthiest relationships, are in the middle. Co-dependency means you can recognize your own emotional needs and work to meet many of them. Maybe you can reach out to your partner when you can’t on your own. In other words, you depend on them for some, but not all, emotional needs. Another aspect is emotional dependence. Here, you generally rely on your partner for almost every need. When you feel distressed, you can turn to them immediately before trying to control your emotions yourself. Feeling like you can’t live without their emotional support could be a sign that your relationship has become an unhealthy addiction.
Other key signs of emotional dependence include:
- idealized visions of your partner or relationship
- belief that your life is meaningless without them
- belief that you cannot find happiness or security on your own
- Persistent fear of rejection
- Constant need Comforting
- Feeling empty and anxious when you are alone
- requiring them to enhance your sense of value, confidence, and self-esteem
- Feelings of jealousy or possessiveness
- Difficulty believing what they feel for you
How to get over its EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCY –
becoming more comfortable with your emotions: The first step to meeting your emotional needs is to learn to recognize emotions as you feel them. It’s okay if it’s hard at first. It is normal to have an uncomfortable feeling when sitting. It is helpful to keep in mind that life has its highs and lows. There is no evil, how do you know the good? What you perceive as negative emotions is just as important as what you perceive as positive emotions. They can help you recognize when things aren’t quite right. Communicate with your curiosity rather of running from uncomfortable feelings or counting on someone to make them go gone.
Try them to gain better insight into your feelings and self.
- Meditation
- Spending time in nature
- Spending time alone
Taking control of your emotional needs: Now that you know more about your emotional state of mind, what can you do about it? say you feel like your partner is neglecting you. You feel jealous, alone or unloved. But instead of looking for reassurance, look at the situation from a different angle. In this way, you can help meet your own need for peace of mind and security. Maybe they need space to solve their own problems. Even in intimate partnerships, it’s common to require time away. It doesn’t always mean someone wants to quit.
Try to focus on what’s fun in the moment by:
- time spent with friends not related to the relationship
- Exploring your interests
- Taking time to relax
- Taking care of yourself
Exploring Your Triggers:
You may notice that certain things trigger emotionally dependent behavior. Example: You mostly seek relief when dealing with external stressors, such as problems at work or drama with friends. When you make a mistake, your ego crumbles and you really need their approval to get back on your feet. You feel rejected and are afraid of losing his love when he spends a lot of time with others. Identifying specific triggers can help you explore ways to cope, whether it’s talking about your feelings with a friend or using positive self-talk to remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments.
Talk to a Therapist:
Working with a trusted therapist can be very beneficial when it comes to identifying and breaking patterns. Emotional dependence is often associated with childhood. Not being firmly attached to your parent or primary caregiver can lead to attachment issues in your adult relationships. Certain attachment styles can play a role in emotional dependence. This can make it somewhat difficult to overcome emotionally dependent behavior on your own. A therapist can help you explore past issues that are causing current relationship problems and develop healthier strategies for addressing emotional needs.
In therapy, you can also address other issues often associated with emotional dependency by:
- developing greater self-compassion
- increasing self-confidence and self-esteem
- learning to recognize healthy relationships
- learning to challenge negative emotions and reframe ideas
In conclusion,
emotional dependency can be a challenging and difficult issue to overcome, but it is possible with the right approach and support. By identifying the root causes of emotional dependency, building self-esteem and self-worth, setting boundaries, and seeking professional help, individuals can take steps towards overcoming emotional dependency and developing healthier relationships. It is important to remember that change takes time and effort, but the rewards of increased independence, self-confidence, and personal growth are well worth the journey towards emotional health and wellbeing.
The TalktoAngel feature can be used to send a message to the ideal therapist. also, well “therapist near me” or relationship counsellor.
