Co-dependency is characterized by sacrificing your personal needs in order to try to meet the needs of others.  You go to excessive lengths to do things for others, hoping that your actions will gain their approval and acceptance.  What matters most is to feel loved by your loved ones. Your deepest fear is to feel abandonment. You feel worthless and helpless inside and believe that rejection is inevitable. You desperately cling to destructive relationships, even though you know that they are harmful to you.

After allowing others to make your life decisions, you lack the ability to trust your own judgement about everyday life decisions. Others automatically make decisions for you without your consultation, or you are overly faithful in the advice and opinions of others over your own.

You usually feel alienated from others whether alone or in a group. You tend to avoid social, especially group settings unless you feel accepted. 

Do you find yourself…

• Judging everything you say, think or do, as never good enough?
• Valuing others’ approval of your thoughts, actions, and speech over your own?
• Extremely loyal, remaining in harmful situations for too long?
• Afraid to express differing opinions or feelings of your own?
• Attempting to convince others of what they should think and how they should truly feel?
• Freely offering others advice and directions without being asked?

Help & Treatment

Seeking professional help early can help to reduce the harmful consequences of co-dependency. 

Screening - The aim of the initial session is to identify the presence of co-dependency, as well as any negative effects that have been brought about by the addiction. Any other existing mental health conditions are screened for in order to provide a deeper understanding of the client. 

Assessment - This is a comprehensive understanding of the severity and depth of the co-dependency problem in the context of the client's life. The individual's strengths, weaknesses, problems and needs are taken into account in order to determine an effective solution. Potential risks are also discussed to integrate into the treatment planning. A discussion of a suitable treatment plan will proceed after the assessment. 

Treatment Planning + Counselling - The treatment plan is tailored to the client's needs. Immediate and long-term goals are established. A discussion of WE CARE's holistic services is included in the treatment planning. Brief therapy is provided to clients with mild to moderate co-dependency problems. An intensive and long-term recovery approach is more appropriate for chronic co-dependency.  

If you or someone you know has a co-dependency problem, we strongly encourage you to make an appointment with us. Call 3165 8017 or email help@wecare.org.sg